implacable

adjective

im·​pla·​ca·​ble (ˌ)im-ˈpla-kə-bəl  -ˈplā- 

: not placable : not capable of being appeased, significantly changed, or mitigated

an implacable enemy

implacability

(ˌ)im-ˌpla-kə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

-ˌplā-

noun

implacably

(ˌ)im-ˈpla-kə-blē 

-ˈplā-

adverb

Did you know?

Implacable is rooted in Latin placare, meaning "to soothe," but its im- prefix is a variant of the negating prefix in- (as in inactive) and it signals that there’s nothing warm and fuzzy here. Someone or something described as implacable cannot be soothed, which usually means trouble: implacable is most often attached to words like foe, enemy, hatred and hostility. The opposite of implacable is, of course, placable; it means "easily soothed," but sadly isn’t called upon very often. Another placare word is likely more familiar. Placate means "to soothe or appease"; it’s frequently applied when an angry person is made to feel less so.

Synonyms

• adamant
• adamantine
• bullheaded
• dogged
• hard
• hard-nosed
• hardened
• hardheaded
• headstrong
• immovable
• inconvincible
• inflexible
• intransigent
• mulish
• obdurate
• obstinate
• opinionated
• ossified
• pat
• pertinacious
• perverse
• pigheaded
• self-opinionated
• self-willed
• stiff-necked
• stubborn
• unbending
• uncompromising
• unrelenting
• unyielding
• willful
• wilful

Examples of implacable in a Sentence

He has an implacable hatred for his political opponents.

an implacable judge who knew in his bones that the cover-up extended to the highest levels of government

Recent Examples on the Web

Their implacable insistence, which lives in symbiosis with Netanyahu’s political survival instincts, has become a continual roadblock to members of the security establishment who would prefer for the IDF to wrap up its offensive. —Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024

Yes, Musk opens himself to attack with problematic tweets but implacable Tesla critics misplace their vitriol, projecting personal opinion of Musk onto Tesla products. —Brooke Crothers, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024

Does the implacable fact of death have any purchase whatsoever on its possum-y heart? —Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

Having established himself as the ultimate cool, implacable bad guy in the Matrix movies, Hugo Weaving has brought an instant credibility to the role of Frank Harkness, whose mercenary operation at Les Arbres operates like its own cruel fiefdom in the bleakest town in France. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin implacabilis, from in- + placabilis placable

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

implacable

adjective

im·​pla·​ca·​ble (ˈ)im-ˈplak-ə-bəl  -ˈplā-kə- 

: not possible to please, satisfy, or change

an implacable enemy

implacability

-ˌplak-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

-ˌplā-kə-

noun

implacably

-ˈplak-ə-blē 

-ˈplā-kə-

adverb