inflexible Hear it!

inflexible Definition

in·flex·ible (in fleksə bəl)

adjective

  1. that cannot be bent or curved; stiff; rigid
  2. firm in mind or purpose; stubborn; unyielding; unshakable
  3. that cannot be changed; fixed; unalterable an inflexible rule

Etymology: ME < L inflexibilis: see in- & flexible

inflexible Related Forms
in·flex′·ibil·ity noun or in·flex·ible·ness in·flex·ibly adverb
inflexible Synonyms

inflexible

modif.

  1. Stiff

    rigid, hardened, unbendable, taut; see firm 2, stiff 1.

  2. Firm of purpose

    implacable, resolute, obdurate, adamant, stubborn, unyielding, unshakable, immovable, determined, unrelenting, unalterable, fixed, ironclad; see also obstinate, resolute 2.

inflexible implies an unyielding or unshakable firmness in mind or purpose, sometimes connoting stubbornness his inflexible attitude; adamant implies a firm or unbreakable resolve that remains unaffected by temptation or pleading adamant to her entreaties; implacable suggests the impossibility of pacifying or appeasing implacable in his hatred; obdurate implies a hardheartedness that is not easily moved to pity, sympathy, or forgiveness her obdurate refusal to help

inflexible Usage Examples

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • make: Changing working practices and technological advances have made many jobs more inflexible and automated.

Modifies a noun

  • rule: These codes are not meant to lay down strict or inflexible rules.
  • barrier: Abreaction produces almost inflexible barriers, which are very difficult to change.
  • attitude: Only the weak fear criticism and hide behind inflexible attitudes.
  • regime: These are not aspirations that flourish according to the dictates of a program, a formula or an inflexible funding regime.
  • working: An insistence on inflexible working may give rise to a claim of indirect sex or marriage discrimination under the SDA.
  • hour: The survey found that pay and inflexible hours for lower paid staff are key reasons behind recruitment and retention problems.

Modifying Another Word

  • relatively: Flexibility As has been noted elsewhere in this response, CSS is a relatively inflexible scheme.
  • somewhat: The suits themselves feel bulky and somewhat inflexible, but are remarkably comfortable overall.
  • too: The former are too inflexible; the latter don't work effectively.
  • totally: This was most of America: willing, eager to learn, but totally inflexible.
  • rather: Although OMR is sometimes thought of as being rather inflexible, it is often the best tool to use.
  • increasingly: The effect will make disabled people feel more fearful of an increasingly inflexible benefit system.

Infinitive complement

  • change: Try to avoid too much detail as this can be two restrictive and inflexible to change.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: But The Master remains inflexible ] * Occupation of Iraq illegal, Blair told [ ' without a further UN resolution ' .
  • become: On the other hand, highly co-ordinated funding could become inflexible.
  • seem: They often have a very logical and direct style of thinking which may seem inflexible to others.
  • prove: From this you will see that they are proving inflexible on the matter of the cost of the license.
  • appear: While this might appear inflexible, it does put buyers in a better position than before.

Preposition: in

  • term: The current rules are simply too narrow and inflexible in terms of both road safety and the rule of law.
inflexible Quotes

   The party must protect itself against the activities of small groups of inflexible political persuasion†having in common only their arrogant dogmatism† I have no wish to lead a party of political zombies.

—Wilson of Rievaulx, (James) Harold Wilson, Baron