Ineradicable

Ineradicable is an adjective describing something that cannot be eradicated or removed; it denotes an enduring, persistent, or inescapable quality or condition. The term is commonly applied to abstract concepts such as memories, biases, or social problems, and can be used metaphorically for physical traces or defects that resist elimination.

Etymology and nuance: Ineradicable comes from Latin roots meaning not eradicable, built from in- (not) + eradicare (to eradicate) with the suffix -able. The word conveys a stronger sense of impossibility than terms like persistent or enduring, and is typically found in formal, literary, or analytical writing. It is less common in everyday speech.

Usage notes: While applicable in scientific or critical contexts, ineradicable often carries a rhetorically heightened tone. In some cases, authors may substitute indelible or intractable depending on the nuance sought: indelible emphasizes lasting marks or memories, whereas intractable emphasizes resistance to change or resolution. Irremediable focuses on the lack of remedy, which is a related but distinct concept.

Examples: The ineradicable memory of the disaster haunted him for years. Critics described the regime’s corruption as an ineradicable feature of the political system. The report argued that an ineradicable bias skewed the data interpretation.

See also: indelible, intractable, irremediable.