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unreconcilable

unreconcilable

7.7
Impossible to make two people or ideas agree
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnrɪˈkɒnsɪləbəl/
translation icon : irreconciliable
  • Haplo's mind wrestled with itself, attempting to reconcile the unreconcilable.

Examples

  • The differing opinions on climate change seem completely unreconcilable, leaving little room for compromise.

  • Alpha also promotes, as does the leadership of the TB, 'unity' between Protestants and Roman Catholics, with no consideration, or perhaps realization, of the unreconcilable doctrines of the two Churches, and so another concern is its trend towards ecumenism.

    Blog text (16)
  • Their values were so different that their goals in life felt unreconcilable, making it hard to work together.

  • Despite numerous discussions, the two sides remained unreconcilable in their positions on the policy.

Synonyms

contradictory
vsunreconcilable
72 6.1

Showing ideas or statements that do not agree and cannot both be true

indicates total lack of agreement across ideas or positions
antithetical
vsunreconcilable
12 8.4

Directly opposed in beliefs or purpose

implies complete inability to agree rather than just opposition
irreconcilable
vsunreconcilable
11 7.7

So different that people cannot agree

is the same in meaning but uses a different form
discordant
vsunreconcilable
9 7.4

Not fitting together and often clashing in sound or opinion

implies complete irreconcilability rather than general lack of harmony
conflicting
vsunreconcilable
7 4.2

Having ideas, facts, or feelings that do not agree with each other

means they cannot be reconciled rather than only disagreeing
dissonant
vsunreconcilable
1 7.1

Colors, opinions, or sounds that do not match and seem to clash

denotes absolute incompatibility rather than just a clash
disharmonious
vsunreconcilable
1 7.8

Not fitting together, like clashing sounds or colors

is stronger, stating they cannot be brought into agreement
conflictive
vsunreconcilable
7.4

Showing that facts or statements do not match

focuses on absolute unreconcilability not just mutual disagreement
clashing
vsunreconcilable
4.9

Having colors, patterns or ideas that do not go well together

refers to permanent inability to harmonize rather than sharp clash
inconsonant
vsunreconcilable
9.8

Not in agreement with something else

expresses impossibility of agreement rather than mere inconsistency
disharmonic
vsunreconcilable
8.2

Not matching other things in look, feeling, or ideas

carries stronger sense of being impossible to bring into harmony

Antonyms

112 4.1

Able to exist or work together without conflict

1 5.6

People can make them agree or work together

How Reconciled

harmonious
14 4.2
compatible
112 4.1
reconcilable
1 5.6
unreconcilable
7.7
incompatible
41 6.2
contradictory
72 6.1

Surface Forms

unreconcilable positive

Morphology

unreconcilable = reconcilable (transparent) = un + reconcile + able

Adding the productive negation prefix 'un-' to the adjective 'reconcilable' yields a straightforward opposite meaning.

Etymology

The word unreconcilable comes from un- meaning 'not' and reconcile meaning 'to bring things back together'. So something unreconcilable cannot be brought into agreement or made to fit together.