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inexorably

inexorably

15 8.3
In a way that cannot be stopped or changed
  • adverb
  • /ɪˈnɛksərəbli/
  • Formal
translation icon : inexorablemente
  • Sprawling apartment complexes creep inexorably down the wadis, swallowing orchards and empty space.
  • leads inexorably
  • inexorably linked
  • moves inexorably

Like they are slowly, inexorably, like, you know, pressing their advantage.

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Examples

  • For five thousand years she had been pursued inexorably, held back, reduced to slavery.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The path of children's development is one of increasing competence linked inexorably to increasing risk.

    Academic text (1996)
  • And yet throughout that, human living standards inexorably rose.

  • And yet a chain of events has started, a chain that will lead you inexorably to his murder.

  • Now we are inexorably heading toward the winter.

  • And the clock moves inexorably towards the final conflict.

  • Two sons, raised a world apart, yet inexorably linked by tragedy.

  • By the early spring of 1861, it appeared that the United States was inexorably headed to war.

  • Just six months ago, the Tunisian revolution began, leading rapidly and inexorably to fundamental change across North Africa and the Middle East.

  • By the early spring of 1861, it appeared that the United States was inexorably headed to war.

Synonyms

relentlessly
vsinexorably
53 4.9

Continuing without stopping in a strong, determined way

is more about inevitability and resistance to persuasion
inescapably
vsinexorably
3 5.8

In a way that cannot be avoided

is stronger meaning impossible to change or persuade
unrelentingly
vsinexorably
3 7.5

Continuing very strongly and not becoming less

is more about being impossible to stop or change
unceasingly
vsinexorably
2 6.6

In a way that does not stop

is more about being inevitable and not persuadable
unremittingly
vsinexorably
1 8.0

Continuing without stopping or getting weaker

is more about being unavoidable and unchangeable rather than nonstop
unstoppably
vsinexorably
1 4.5

Nothing can stop it

is also about being impossible to change or persuade
ineluctably
vsinexorably
  • Formal
1 9.9

In a way you cannot avoid

is stronger meaning it cannot be changed or persuaded

Antonyms

2 3.7

In a way that changes or adapts easily to different situations

How Relentless

inexorably
  • Formal
15 8.3
relentlessly
53 4.9
persistently
14 3.8

Surface Forms

inexorably positive

Morphology

inexorably = inexorable (semi-transparent) = in + exor + able + ly

The adverb is transparently formed from the adjective 'inexorable' with -ly, but the adjective itself contains the uncommon combining form 'exor-' plus the negative prefix 'in-', which may not be obvious to learners.

Etymology

Inexorably comes from Latin parts in- meaning 'not' and exorare meaning 'to beg' or 'to persuade', so it once meant 'not able to be persuaded'. Think of something you cannot move even if you beg, and that is why inexorably means 'in a way that cannot be stopped or changed'.