English Reference
adjective

irresistible

adj.
US /ˌɪɹɪˈzɪstəbəɫ/ UK /ɪɹɪsˈɪstəbəl/ ir·re·sistible

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    so strong or powerful that you cannot stop it or fight against it.

    impossible to resist or withstand; describing a force or impulse that cannot be countered.

    Simple

    The evidence against the company was irresistible, and they quickly lost the court case.

    In context

    The logic of the argument was irresistible, forcing even the most skeptical members of the board to reconsider their initial objections.

    resistibleweak
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    so attractive or tempting that you want it very much.

    compellingly attractive or charming; having an intense appeal that makes refusal difficult.

    Simple

    The smell of fresh bread from the bakery was irresistible to the hungry travelers.

    In context

    She found the offer of a fully funded research position in Paris irresistible, despite her initial plans to stay in London.

What she really wants, she said, is to make the unsexy stuff irresistible.

Phys.org· 17 Aug 2026

Rarely have I read a character so ruthless and irresistible.

The Guardian· 31 Jul 2026

Borrowed from Medieval Latin irresistibilis, equivalent to ir- + resistible.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin la-med irresistibilis
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated