inevitable

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.

“Inevitable” is pronounced ih-NEH-vih-tuh-buhl (/ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/ in IPA).

Here is “inevitable” used in a sentence: “With both sides refusing to compromise, conflict seemed inevitable.”

Words with a similar meaning to “inevitable” include unavoidable, impreventable, avoidless, fatal, foregone and ineluctable.

The opposite of “inevitable” — its antonyms — are evitable, escapable, avoidable, preventable and impossible.

“Inevitable” is an adjective.

The word “inevitable” comes from Latin. From Latin inēvītābilis, "unavoidable" — in- + ēvītāre, "to avoid," from ē- ("out") + vītāre ("to shun").

“Inevitable” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

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.

"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.

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.