inexorable

adjective

in·​ex·​o·​ra·​ble (ˌ)i-ˈnek-sə-rə-bəl 

-ˈneks-rə-,

-ˈneg-zə-rə- 

: not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped : relentless

inexorable progress

inexorability

(ˌ)i-ˌnek-sə-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

-ˌneks-rə-

-ˌneg-zə-

noun

inexorableness

(ˌ)i-ˈnek-sə-rə-bəl-nəs 

-ˈneks-rə-

-ˈneg-zə-

noun

inexorably

(ˌ)i-ˈnek-sə-rə-blē 

-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 strategic distraction has given China the opportunity to press its advantages, further motivated by the increasingly prominent view in China that the United States (along with the West more broadly) is in inexorable and rapid decline. —Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018

Networks suffered a big setback recently with the loss of the NBA and Finch exits amid the seemingly inexorable decline of linear television — illustrated by hefty multi-billion dollar write-downs on the value of the assets at WBD and Paramount last week. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2024

The career stakes are huge for Riefenstahl but less so for American audiences in the 21st century, who know that Nazi Germany is on an inexorable path to war. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2024

After providing his own narrative biography, Vance offered a vision for rescuing the U.S from inexorable decline: protectionist trade agreements, restrictionist immigration policies, and a withdrawal from overseas entanglements. —Eric Cortellessa / Milwaukee, TIME, 18 July 2024

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

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Kids Definition

inexorable

adjective

in·​ex·​o·​ra·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈeks-(ə-)rə-bəl 

: relentless

inexorability

(ˌ)in-ˌeks-(ə-)rə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

inexorableness

(ˈ)in-ˈeks-(ə-)rə-bəl-nəs 

noun

inexorably

-blē 

adverb