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Webster 1913 Edition


Inevitable

In-ev′i-ta-ble

,
Adj.
[L.
inevitabilis
: cf. F.
inévitable
. See
In-
not, and
Evitable
.]
1.
Not evitable; incapable of being shunned; unavoidable; certain.
“The inevitable hour.”
Gray.
It was
inevitable
; it was necessary; it was planted in the nature of things.
Burke.
2.
Irresistible.
Inevitable charms.”
Dryden.

Webster 1828 Edition


Inevitable

INEV'ITABLE

,
Adj.
[L. inevitabilis; in and evitabilis, from evito, to shun.] Not to be avoided; that cannot be shunned; unavoidable; that admits of no escape or evasion. To die is the inevitable lot of man; we are all subjected to many inevitable calamities.

Definition 2024


inevitable

inevitable

See also: inévitable

English

Adjective

inevitable (not comparable)

  1. Impossible to avoid or prevent.
    We were going so fast that the collision was inevitable.
  2. Predictable, or always happening.
    My outburst met with the inevitable punishment.
    • 2012 May 9, Jonathan Wilson, “Europa League: Radamel Falcao's Atlético Madrid rout Athletic Bilbao”, in the Guardian:
      Every break seemed dangerous and Falcao clearly had the beating of Amorebieta. Others, being forced to stretch a foot behind them to control Arda Turan's 34th-minute cross, might simply have lashed a shot on the turn; Falcao, though, twisted back on to his left foot, leaving Amorebieta in a heap, and thumped in an inevitable finish – his 12th goal in 15 European matches this season.
    • 1912, Willa Cather, The Bohemian Girl
      This horse and rider, with their free, rhythmical gallop, were the only moving things to be seen on the face of the flat country. They seemed, in the last sad light of evening, not to be there accidentally, but as an inevitable detail of the landscape.

Usage notes

Largely synonymous with unavoidable, slightly more formal (borrowed as a unit from Latin, rather than formed in English), and with nuances of a natural consequence that occurs after – “inevitable punishment”, “inevitable result”. By contrast, unavoidable has some nuance of existing circumstances – “I was unavoidably detained.” – without there necessarily being a cause.

Further, unavoidable has nuances of “could not have happened any other way, even if circumstances were different”, while inevitable connotes “given circumstances, this is the necessary result.” Compare “the disaster was inevitable”, meaning “sooner or later the disaster would happen (because they did not prepare)” with “the disaster was unavoidable”, meaning “even if they had prepared, the disaster would have happened”.

Often used with a negative connotation, but may be used with a positive or neutral sense of fate, as in “Given our preparations, our victory was inevitable.” in which case *unavoidable is not acceptable.

In the same manner, impreventable and inevitable have different nuances. The sense “the disease was inevitable” means “It was natural to suffer the disease”; the sense “the disease was impreventable” means “There were no preventive methods against the disease”.

Thus, "inevitable" indicates "unable to avoid due to natural or necessary matters", "unavoidable" indicates "unable to avoid due to incidental matters", impreventable indicates "unable to avoid due to the absence of preventive methods".

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

inevitable (plural inevitables)

  1. Something that is predictable, necessary, or cannot be avoided.
    • 2009 August 22, Murray Whyte, “Seeking successors to the Queen West gallery scene”, in Toronto Star:
      In the migratory patterns of the city's art scenes, there are two inevitables: First, that neighbourhoods where art makes its home become instantly more attractive; and second, because of it, art won't be at home for long.

Antonyms

References


Asturian

Etymology

From Latin inēvītābilis.

Adjective

inevitable (epicene, plural inevitables)

  1. inevitable

Related terms


Catalan

Etymology

in- + evitable

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -aβle

Adjective

inevitable m, f (masculine and feminine plural inevitables)

  1. inevitable

Derived terms


Galician

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Latin inēvītābilis.

Adjective

inevitable m, f (plural inevitables)

  1. inevitable

Antonyms

Derived terms


Middle French

Adjective

inevitable m, f (plural inevitables)

  1. inevitable; unavoidable

Descendants


Spanish

Etymology

From Latin inēvītābilis.

Adjective

inevitable m, f (plural inevitables)

  1. inevitable, inescapable, unavoidable (unable to be avoided)

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms