inevitable
16 synonyms and 6 antonyms for inevitable, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Certain to happen; impossible to avoid or prevent.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use inevitable
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin inēvītābilis, "unavoidable" — in- + ēvītāre, "to avoid," from ē- ("out") + vītāre ("to shun").
Full origin of inevitable →Frequently asked questions
What does “inevitable” mean?
The word “inevitable” means certain to happen; impossible to avoid or prevent. In plain terms, something that's definitely going to happen no matter what you try to do about it.
How do you pronounce “inevitable”?
“Inevitable” is pronounced ih-NEH-vih-tuh-buhl (/ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “inevitable” in a sentence?
Here is “inevitable” used in a sentence: “With both sides refusing to compromise, conflict seemed inevitable.”
What is another word for “inevitable”?
Words with a similar meaning to “inevitable” include unavoidable, impreventable, avoidless, fatal, foregone and ineluctable.
What is the opposite of “inevitable”?
The opposite of “inevitable” — its antonyms — are evitable, escapable, avoidable, preventable and impossible.
What part of speech is “inevitable”?
“Inevitable” is an adjective.
Where does the word “inevitable” come from?
The word “inevitable” comes from Latin. From Latin inēvītābilis, "unavoidable" — in- + ēvītāre, "to avoid," from ē- ("out") + vītāre ("to shun").
Is “inevitable” a common word?
“Inevitable” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between inevitable and unavoidable?
They are close synonyms, and in most sentences either works. "Unavoidable" is the plainer, everyday word for something that cannot be dodged, while "inevitable" is slightly more formal and usually points to an outcome that is certain to happen, as in "defeat was inevitable". "Inevitable" also carries a sense of destiny or logical certainty that "unavoidable" lacks.
What is the difference between inevitable and imminent?
"Inevitable" means certain to happen, whenever that may be; "imminent" means about to happen very soon. An event can be inevitable but not imminent, as with retirement decades away, and something imminent, like a storm forecast for tonight, may still be avoided.
Can inevitable describe something predictable rather than truly unavoidable?
Yes. Alongside its strict meaning of "impossible to prevent", inevitable is often used for things that are predictable because they always happen in a given situation, as in "the inevitable arguments about who would drive". Here the word signals weary familiarity rather than literal certainty.