inexorable

inexorable — adjective

1. so strong or determined that no one can stop, slow, or change it — used for larg

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

so strong or determined that no one can stop, slow, or change it — used for large forces such as time or history, and also for people who refuse to change their position

Example

The inexorable passage of time had turned Rachel's hair completely white.

collocation: inexorable passage of time

Marta was inexorable in her demand for a full refund from the hotel.

be + inexorable + in + noun phrase — personal subject

Common collocations
  • inexorable + march
  • inexorable + rise
  • inexorable + advance
  • inexorable + logic
  • inexorable + pressure
  • inexorable + in + noun phrase
  • inexorable + toward + noun
Synonyms
  • relentless

    very close in meaning, but relentless can be used for both serious and everyday contexts

  • unstoppable

    less formal, more common in physical or competitive contexts

  • implacable

    narrower — specifically describes a hostile person or force that cannot be calmed or appeased

Antonyms
  • malleable

    describes something or someone easily influenced or changed

  • yielding

    describes a person who gives in or changes position easily

Grammar Patterns

inexorable + noun

be + inexorable + in + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often used with nouns describing large, impersonal processes (the march of time, the advance of change). When describing a person, it suggests a firm, almost harsh refusal to compromise.

Common Mistakes

The baby was inexorable in crying all night.
The baby was relentless in crying all night.
inexorable is too formal and weighty for everyday situations; use relentless instead.

Word family

  • inexorably
    adverbC2
  • inexorability
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

While all four words describe something that cannot be stopped or avoided, they differ in nuance. Relentless emphasizes continuous, unceasing activity — a relentless storm or a relentless worker who never rests. Unstoppable focuses on momentum that overcomes any obstacle, used often in sports or physical competition. Implacable describes a hostile person or force that cannot be calmed or made less angry, carrying a stronger emotional charge than inexorable. Inevitable is the broadest: it describes any outcome that is certain to happen, regardless of effort. Inexorable sits between them: it suggests a slow, powerful, almost dignified progression that no human effort can redirect. For example: 'Time is inexorable' sounds like a philosophical observation; 'Time is relentless' emphasizes the exhausting pressure of each passing moment; 'Time is inevitable' merely states the obvious.

relentless ↗unstoppableimplacableinevitable ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • the march of time
  • the advance of change
  • the rise of something
  • the pressure of something
  • the logic of something

Phrases

  • inexorable + toward + noun
  • inexorable + in + noun

Prepositions

  • inexorable in
  • inexorable toward

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin inexorabilis, combining in- ('not') with exorabilis ('able to be persuaded'), from exorare ('to persuade, to entreat'). The word entered English in the 1500s, originally describing a god or judge who could not be moved by prayer or pleading. Over time its meaning broadened to include any powerful, unstoppable force — both personal and impersonal.