1
as in unchangeable
not capable of changing or being changed
the inflexible law of gravity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rigid
incapable of or highly resistant to bending
shoes made of inflexible plastic hurt my feet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in strict
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
inflexible entry rules for the contest ban anyone who works for the company as well as any of their relatives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
her inflexible father was unmoved by tears and pleading, and he grounded her anyway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inflexible
The distinctive lifestyle of elite athletes can create a hotbed for eating disorders and disordered eating, meaning restrictive, compulsive, irregular or inflexible eating patterns, all of which can occur on a spectrum.
—
Emily Hemendinger, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026
While effective, these approaches can be slow or inflexible.
—New Atlas, 8 Feb. 2026
Critics said the language was too vague, potentially exacerbating budget problems by making certain revenues too inflexible.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
Chili tastes are highly personal, often inflexible and loaded with preconceptions — the political party of culinary offerings.
—The Know, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflexible
Emily Hemendinger, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026
While effective, these approaches can be slow or inflexible.
—New Atlas, 8 Feb. 2026
Critics said the language was too vague, potentially exacerbating budget problems by making certain revenues too inflexible.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
Chili tastes are highly personal, often inflexible and loaded with preconceptions — the political party of culinary offerings.
—The Know, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflexible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflexible
Adjective
-
Privacy advocates have warned about the risks of identity verification like World’s, as iris scans are unchangeable and could cause all manner of havoc in the wrong hands.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order proclaiming that the U.S. recognizes only two unchangeable sexes, male and female.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In the South, gardening is less about rigid dates and more about reading the season.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
-
That powder-keg moment quickly spread nationwide, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with a regime that has systematically devastated the country while clinging to its rigid ideology.—
Lily Moayeri,
Rolling Stone,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The effort focused on brighter street lighting, stricter enforcement against underage alcohol use and a dedicated EMS presence on Sixth Street during weekend nights.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Gandi says the licensure standards are stricter now.—
Esme Murphy,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In business, this same perseverance can be invaluable when navigating competitive and fluctuating markets, stubborn problems or enduring long timelines that don’t pay immediate dividends but for which the rewards are worth the wait.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
3 Mar. 2026
-
For stubborn black spots, make a paste using baking soda and a small amount of water.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
When a soccer player runs downfield in anticipation of the ball being passed to them, the goal is to have the ball arrive where the player will be in the future, but that mental calculation is familiar to us, intuitively, because the soccer field itself is static and unchanging.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Corporate earnings are on pace to close out a fifth straight quarter of double-digit percentage gains, a positive but unchanging pace that clearly is now being fully anticipated by investors before the reports hit.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Remove and use an electric mixer to whisk until the meringue holds stiff, glossy peaks, about 3-4 minutes.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Wind or a slight breeze helps the fibers to stay moving, which helps to prevent the stiff feeling.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
While minimally invasive procedures have improved cardiac care, the heart’s complex anatomy and constant motion require rigorous hands-on training to reduce procedural errors.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Samuels has offered up his own priorities, including safe, academically rigorous and truly integrated schools.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What is that key meant to represent, and why was Mycroft so adamant about Sherlock literally and figuratively closing that book and moving on with his life?—
Max Gao,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Getting everyone on board As the legislative committee develops initiatives to help cut down red tape, Wicks is adamant that new state regulations are just one piece of the puzzle that municipalities must also solve.—
Amancai Biraben,
Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflexible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflexible. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
