implacable

[ im-plak-uh-buhl, -pley-kuh- ]

adjective

1. not to be appeased, mollified, or pacified; inexorable:

   an implacable enemy.

   Synonyms: unappeasable, merciless, unbending

implacable

/ ɪmˈplækəbəl /

adjective

1. incapable of being placated or pacified; unappeasable
2. inflexible; intractable

Derived Forms

• imˈplacably, adverb
• imˌplacaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• im·placa·bili·ty im·placa·ble·ness noun
• im·placa·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of implacable¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word implācābilis. See im- ², placable

Synonym Study

See inflexible.

Example Sentences

His voice is measured, lucid, and implacable.

From Salon

Sen, who also handled both the black-and-white cinematography and the editing, has a terrific eye for shot composition and sets a deliberate pace that feels implacable rather than merely slow.

From New York Times

Carlo’s implacable bitterness toward his sister stems in part from his blaming her for their brother’s death.

From Seattle Times

"Even the implacable Logan Roy would smile in delighted amazement if he could see this," Fiona Mountford of iNews wrote of Snook's stage performance.

From BBC

They campaigned for a decade against an implacable but ill-prepared bloc of New York’s political and corporate establishment.

From New York Times

Related Words

• inexorable
• intractable
• relentless
• ruthless
• uncompromising
• unforgiving
• unrelenting
• unyielding