inevitable Hear it!

inevitable Definition

in·evi·table (in ev′i tə bəl)

adjective

that cannot be avoided or evaded; certain to happen

Etymology: ME < L inevitabilis: see in- & evitable

noun

that which is inevitable: often preceded by the

inevitable Related Forms

in·ev′i·tabil′·ity noun in·ev′i·tably adverb

inevitable Synonyms

inevitable

modif.

fated, certain, sure, unavoidable, impending, imminent, inescapable, necessary, ineluctable, unpreventable, irresistible, prescribed, destined, assured, ineludible, compulsory, obligatory, binding, irrevocable, inexorable, without fail, undeniable, fateful, doomed, determined, predetermined, decreed, fixed, ordained, foreordained, decided, unalterable, sure as shooting*, sure as blazes*, as sure as your name is …*, in the cards*, come rain or shine*; see also certain 3, destined 1.

Antonyms doubtful*, contingent*, avoidable.

inevitable Usage Examples

Preposition: that

  • mistake: However, the frenetic tempo of e-commerce makes it inevitable that mistakes will occasionally occur.
  • someone: Although we try to keep our prices as low as possible it's inevitable that someone will try to offer a better price.

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: Despite the almost inevitable US bias it is still worth a visit.
  • seemingly: A composition that is seemingly inevitable, not labored.
  • perhaps: This is perhaps inevitable, given that the interest has arisen directly from the social sciences.
  • virtually: It is virtually inevitable that all information not strictly kept under wraps will make it onto the WWW.
  • but: The reason is that it is all but inevitable that there will be sizeable gilt issues coming along for the foreseeable future.
  • somehow: We seem to see it as somehow inevitable, or at least completely beyond our control or influence.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

make: However, such a shift does not make success inevitable: effort does.

Modifies a noun

  • consequence: Every action has inevitable consequences, which mold the future.
  • demise: Some try to salvage the dominant paradigm with endless minute adjustments that merely prolong its inevitable demise.
  • conclusion: Surely New Labor was the inevitable conclusion of Kinnock's modernisation process?
  • backlash: This way, the Referee obtains the name before the inevitable backlash of incredulity.
  • corollary: With the inevitable corollary that what should be a corporate benefit has just become a corporate exposure!
  • trade-off: This is partly explained by the US blockade, but is there an inevitable trade-off between growth and equity?

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: Now a trip up to Teesside seems inevitable to resolve the league.
  • become: Somewhere in this big bang time the eventual formation of Stan's Cafe became inevitable.
  • look: Change looks inevitable; we need to address the end result with open negotiation.
  • accept: Does listening generously mean that we have to accept as inevitable that some other christians will regard us as fence sitters?
  • consider: Contact between cheeses and transfer of some cheese material was considered inevitable.