# inexorably

/ˌɪˈnɛksɝəbɫi/ (US) · /ɪnˈɛksəɹəbli/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inexorably
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

in a way that cannot be stopped or changed. You use it when something keeps moving toward an end, even if people want to stop it.

For teachers: in a manner that cannot be stopped, changed, or resisted, advancing steadily toward an inevitable outcome. Often modifies verbs of motion or change such as advance, drift, or slide.

## Examples

- Time moves inexorably forward every day.
- The small town changes inexorably as new roads and shops replace the old farms.
- The glacier advances inexorably down the valley, reshaping rock that has stood for millennia with quiet, unstoppable force.

## Synonyms

relentlessly, unrelentingly

## Usage notes

- Typically placed after the verb it modifies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.