as in small
formal
not able to be made smaller or simpler
They thought the world was made up of four irreducible elements: earth, air, fire, and water. an irreducible fraction
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Recent Examples of irreducible
Because the tree should be irreducible, there is no circumstance where n2 can exist, so n2 = 0.
—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
1 Mar. 2026
The baritone etched himself in the national songbook as the translator of the irreducible dark and comely consciousness.
—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Slightness in such instances means irreducible.
—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
The most basic and irreducible requirements of meaningful transformations push against our wiring because big changes to form and structure introduce complexity, require time, and are defined by paradox.
—
Brené Brown,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irreducible
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
1 Mar. 2026
The baritone etched himself in the national songbook as the translator of the irreducible dark and comely consciousness.
—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Slightness in such instances means irreducible.
—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
The most basic and irreducible requirements of meaningful transformations push against our wiring because big changes to form and structure introduce complexity, require time, and are defined by paradox.
—
Brené Brown,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irreducible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irreducible
Adjective
-
Name the worry out loud, then choose a small boundary that protects your energy, such as turning off notifications during a demanding task.
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People milled about clutching small rainbow flags from the human rights organization Outright International.
Adjective
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While that’s painful for house hunters, note that the surge was the 18th-smallest among states and trailed the 93% jump nationally.
Adjective
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Three other people in the vehicle, including a 6-month-old, had minor injuries, the report said.
-
The adult and child had minor to moderate injuries and were taken to the hospital, the fire department said.
Cite this Entry
“Irreducible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irreducible. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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