inexorable

Inexorable is an adjective describing something that cannot be stopped or prevented; it also carries a sense of relentless, inevitable force. It is often used for processes or events that progress without pause or consideration of obstacles, such as time, change, or consequences.

Etymology: The word comes from the Latin inexorabilis, formed from in- (not) and exorabilis (able to be entreated or moved by pleas), effectively meaning “not able to be persuaded.” It entered English in the early modern period and has retained a tone of hardness or merciless persistence.

Usage: Inexorable is commonly applied to broad, impersonal forces, for example the inexorable march of time, the inexorable advance of a policy, or the inexorable spread of a disease. It can also describe stubborn perseverance in a person or institution, though the term often implies a lack of sympathy or options for resistance. The adverb form is inexorably, and the noun form is inexorability.

Nuance: While often used to convey inevitability, inexorable sometimes carries a negative or dramatic connotation, suggesting that pleas or resistance are futile. It is distinct from merely unavoidable or certain; it emphasizes relentless momentum that proceeds despite attempts to alter its course.

See also: inexorability, inexorably, inevitability, relentless.