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inexcusable

inexcusable

35 5.6
Too bad to be forgiven
  • adjective
  • /ˌɪnɪkˈskjuːzəbl/
translation icon : imperdonable
  • Yes, and I've never heard such inexcusable abuse.

I've also seen the tragic effects of the war, an inexcusable war, an absolutely inexcusable, an unnecessary war.

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Examples

  • To be in custody for seven months without trial is inexcusable in virtually all cases.

    Academic text (1997)
  • The way I made you feel is inexcusable.

  • I think the truth is most important and I think it's inexcusable not to tell it.

  • My subordinate's behavior was inexcusable.

  • Mr. Wesley, no matter what our friendship of old, what you said in there was inexcusable.

  • But what Rodney did to you is inexcusable, and I'm not surprised.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The way everyone's behaved today -has been inexcusable.

  • The issue, the only issue, is the nonattendance of these two students and their flagrant and inexcusable neglect of work.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • His deception was inexcusable.

  • It is inexcusable to ignore the cries for help from those in need.

Synonyms

egregious
vsinexcusable
58 8.9

Very bad and obvious in a way that shocks people

focuses on being impossible to excuse rather than on noticeable severity
reprehensible
vsinexcusable
  • Formal
50 7.9

Morally wrong and deserving strong criticism

is about being impossible to excuse rather than only deserving criticism
unforgivable
vsinexcusable
45 5.2

So bad that people will not accept it

focuses on being impossible to justify rather than on forgiveness
intolerable
vsinexcusable
42 4.9

So unpleasant or painful that you cannot bear it

refers to inability to tolerate rather than impossibility to excuse
deplorable
vsinexcusable
38 6.8

Very bad and unacceptable, deserving strong criticism

is about being impossible to excuse rather than merely causing shock
unconscionable
vsinexcusable
35 8.9

Very wrong and unfair in a way people cannot accept

focuses on being impossible to excuse rather than only moral wrongness
unjustifiable
vsinexcusable
5 6.8

You cannot show it is right or acceptable

stresses being unacceptable and without excuse rather than proven right
unsupportable
vsinexcusable
4 6.8

No one can show it is right

frames lack of excuse as moral rather than simply unsupported
unpardonable
vsinexcusable
3 7.6

An action so bad that people cannot forgive it

focuses on being unable to be justified rather than merely severe
condemnable
vsinexcusable
1 7.5

Deserving strong criticism for being wrong

is focused on lack of excuse rather than formal condemnation
completely indefensible
vsinexcusable
1 8.1

An action or comment that no one can give a good reason for

highlights moral unacceptability and lack of excuse rather than legal defense
inexpiable
vsinexcusable
  • Literature
9.9

Too serious to be forgiven or made right

stresses being impossible to excuse rather than repairable by atonement
undefensible
vsinexcusable
7.7

Not possible to show as right or acceptable

highlights moral unacceptability rather than debate about defense
blameable
vsinexcusable
6.4

People think it caused harm or did something wrong

highlights being impossible to excuse rather than only deserving blame

Antonyms

7 3.3

Not very serious, so people usually excuse it

6 3.6

Someone can forgive it because of the situation, for example an honest mistake

How Excusable

excusable
6 3.6
pardonable
1 4.4
inexcusable
35 5.6
unforgivable
45 5.2

Surface Forms

inexcusable positive
inexcusableer comparative
inexcusablest superlative

Morphology

inexcusable = excusable (transparent) = in + excuse + able

The negative prefix 'in-' straightforwardly forms the meaning 'not excusable' from the adjective 'excusable'.

Etymology

The word inexcusable breaks into in- 'not' and excuse 'to forgive or justify', so inexcusable describes something 'too bad to be forgiven or justified'.