irreconcilable

Irreconcilable is an adjective describing something that cannot be brought into harmony, agreement, or compatibility. It is used to characterize differences, beliefs, conditions, or relationships that resist negotiation or compromise. The term can describe practical disputes, ethical or ideological positions, or personal incompatibilities that seem insoluble.

Etymology and form: irreconcilable is formed from the negative prefix ir- attached to reconcilable, itself derived from reconcile, which ultimately comes from Latin reconciliare. The noun form irreconcilability denotes the state or quality of being irreconcilable.

Usage and contexts: In everyday language, irreconcilable differences are cited as a reason a relationship cannot continue. In family law, irreconcilable differences are a common ground for no-fault divorce in several jurisdictions, allowing a party to end a marriage without proving fault. In politics and history, irreconcilable has been used to describe fundamental ideological divisions that resist compromise, such as the historical Irreconcilables, a group in the U.S. Senate that opposed certain international treaties after World War I. In philosophy and ethics, the term can describe incompatible worldviews, moral frameworks, or methodological commitments.

Related terms: irreconcilability (noun), incompatible, incommensurable, intractable, uncompromising. The sense of irreconcilable implies a decisive level of incompatibility, though the term can be subjective and context-dependent, relying on interpretation of what counts as an acceptable compromise or resolution.