inexorable
/ɪnˈɛks(ə)rəb(ə)l
/adjective
1Impossible to stop or prevent: the seemingly inexorable march of new technology...
- Something has got to be done to stop this inexorable rise in expenditure.
- Whether this is another ‘mystery’, or just another step in what many see as an inexorable march to the discovery of life or its footprint on Mars is up to you.
- Bird flu continued its seemingly inexorable march through Asia, as Indonesia on Tuesday found a strain of the virus in its poultry flocks that can be deadly to humans.
Synonyms
relentless, unstoppable, unavoidable, inescapable, inevitable, irrevocable;
persistent, continuous, non-stop, steady, unabating, interminable, incessant, unceasing, unending, unremitting, unrelenting
1.1(Of a person) impossible to persuade; unrelenting: the doctors were inexorable, and there was nothing to be done...
- Death, that inexorable judge, had passed sentence on him and refused to grant him a reprieve, though two doctors were his counsel.
- There was no capitulation over the four kilometres and there were no errors, merely gradual submission to inexorable opponents.
- Before these inexorable judges, for five days, the world of Italian fashion presented its collections.
Synonyms
intransigent, unbending, unyielding, inflexible, unswerving, unwavering, adamant, obdurate, determined, immovable, unshakeable, implacable, unappeasable, unpacifiable, unplacatable, unmollifiable, unforgiving, unsparing, uncompromising;
strict, severe, iron-handed, stringent, harsh, hard, tough, exacting, rigorous, draconian, cruel, ruthless, relentless, unrelenting, pitiless, merciless, remorseless
rare indurate
Derivatives
inexorability
/ noun ...- As the current standard-bearers for mankind, we must also bear the heavy burden of being its worst incarnation yet, and that, with the inexorability of time, things can only get worse.
- For Dickens, history has both an inexorability and an arbitrariness.
- The suddenness of the storm, and its inexorability, amaze the crew; their aristocratic passengers show only irritation at the crew's alarm.
Origin
Mid 16th century: from French, or from Latin inexorabilis, from in- 'not' + exorabilis (from exorare 'entreat').