inexorable

adjective

in·​ex·​o·​ra·​ble (ˌ)i-ˈnek-sə-rə-bəl How to pronounce inexorable (audio)
-ˈneks-rə-,
-ˈneg-zə-rə- How to pronounce inexorable (audio)
: not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped : relentless
inexorable progress
inexorability
(ˌ)i-ˌnek-sə-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce inexorable (audio)
-ˌneks-rə-
-ˌneg-zə-
noun
inexorableness
(ˌ)i-ˈnek-sə-rə-bəl-nəs How to pronounce inexorable (audio)
-ˈneks-rə-
-ˈneg-zə-
noun
inexorably
(ˌ)i-ˈnek-sə-rə-blē How to pronounce inexorable (audio)
-ˈneks-rə-
-ˈneg-zə-rə-
adverb

Did you know?

The Latin antecedent of inexorable is inexorabilis, which is itself a combination of the prefix in-, meaning "not," plus exorabilis, meaning "pliant" or "capable of being moved by entreaty." It's a fitting etymology for inexorable. You can beseech and implore until you're blue in the face, but that won't have any effect on something that's inexorable. Inexorable has been a part of the English language since the 1500s. Originally, it was often applied to people or sometimes to personified things, as in "deaf and inexorable laws." These days, it is usually applied to things, as in "inexorable monotony" or "an inexorable trend." In such cases, it essentially means "unyielding" or "inflexible."

Examples of inexorable in a Sentence

the inexorable rise of a political movement
Recent Examples on the Web This mismatch is the root cause of many of the problems with corporate networks, including their inexorable switchover from attract to extract mode and the exclusion of so many contributors from the upside of their networks. Chris Dixon, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024 Birth rates, of course, follow long-term trends, and one explanation is the inexorable demographic consequences of becoming a postindustrial country: Russian society started to become modern—with people moving to cities, becoming more educated, and having fewer children—back in the 1960s. Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2024 In recent years, disinformation has seemed to be on an inexorable march across the scientific and medical landscape. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024 Lithium prices currently enjoy support from the metal’s limited supply and inexorable demand. Christopher Helman, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 The clerk’s office has a rolling schedule for precincts to help handle the inexorable accumulation of stuff. Chelsia Rose Marcius Lanna Apisukh, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024 The Great Attractor is the end result of billions of years of slow but inexorable gravitational work, the inevitable conclusion to this grand construction project. Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 24 Apr. 2023 The tide on Brian Wilson’s life has begun its inexorable roll out to sea. Michael Peregrine, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 Ukraine’s army would not suddenly be overwhelmed, analysts say, but the degradation of its forces would be inexorable. Marc Santora, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inexorable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin inexorabilis, from in- + exorabilis pliant, from exorare to prevail upon, from ex- + orare to speak — more at oration

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inexorable was in 1542

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Dictionary Entries Near inexorable

Cite this Entry

“Inexorable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inexorable. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inexorable

adjective
in·​ex·​o·​ra·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈeks-(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce inexorable (audio)
inexorableness noun
inexorably adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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