Word
implacable
Phoneticsim·pla·ca·ble, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪmˈpɫækəbəɫ/
UK/ɪmplˈækəbəl/
Definition
adj. so angry or determined that nothing can calm it down or change it. You use this for anger, hate, or opposition that will not stop.
adj. incapable of being calmed, appeased, or reconciled; relentlessly hostile or unyielding. Often describes anger, hatred, opposition, or pursuit that persists despite attempts to soften it.
Examples
“She faces implacable opposition from her rivals.”
“The mayor faces implacable critics who reject every compromise on the new housing plan.”
“Despite months of negotiation, the two families remained implacable, each treating every concession as weakness rather than a step toward peace.”
Examples
simple
“She faces implacable opposition from her rivals.”
contextual
“The mayor faces implacable critics who reject every compromise on the new housing plan.”
complex
“Despite months of negotiation, the two families remained implacable, each treating every concession as weakness rather than a step toward peace.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “implacable” in context.
Verb
01. become implacable
“After the betrayal, he became implacable and refused all reconciliation.”
verb + adj
02. implacable in hatred
“He was implacable in his hatred and refused to forgive his rivals.”
adj + prep + noun
03. implacable towards criticism
“The board remained implacable towards criticism of its handling of the crisis.”
adj + prep + noun
04. prove implacable
“The dictatorship proved implacable and crushed all dissent without mercy.”
verb + adj
Adjective
05. absolutely implacable
“Her critics proved absolutely implacable and rejected every compromise offered.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. implacable enemy
“The reformer made an implacable enemy of the conservative press.”
adj + noun
07. implacable foe
“He was known as an implacable foe of corruption throughout his career.”
adj + noun
08. implacable hostility
“The two communities regarded each other with implacable hostility.”
adj + noun
09. implacable opposition
“The proposal met with implacable opposition from environmental groups.”
adj + noun
10. an implacable enemy of reform
“After the scandal, he became an implacable enemy of reform.”
11. face implacable hostility from rivals
“The candidate faced implacable hostility from rivals throughout the campaign.”
12. meet with implacable opposition
“The housing plan met with implacable opposition from local residents.”
Real-World Examples
“There is no room for friends and family in the Tchaikovsky – just implacable Fate breathing down the composer’s neck during an especially turbulent time in his life.” “A magisterial fury in fuchsia, she delivered a visceral account of the final scene from Salome, running the gamut from implacable vengeance to unhinged lust.” Etymology
From Middle English implācāble (“immitigable, unappeasable”) from Old French implacable (“harsh, unrelenting; implacable”) (modern French implacable), from Latin implācābilis (“unappeasable, implacable; irreconcilable”), from im- (variant of in- (prefix meaning ‘not’)) + plācābilis (“placable; appeasing, moderating, pacifying, propitiating; acceptable”) (from plācō (“to assuage, pacify, placate; to appease; to reconcile”) + -bilis (suffix forming adjectives indicating a capacity or worth of being acted upon)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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