WordGarden.ioimplacable
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪmplˈækəbəl/
US
- /ˌɪmˈplækəbəl/
Meanings
Adjective
impossible to appease, persuade, or soften in opposition
relentless and impossible to stop or change
Beyond the definition
Imagine a storm raging at sea - powerful, steady, and impossible to calm. That's the feeling behind "implacable." It describes someone or something that cannot be soothed, changed, or made more gentle, and that keeps going in the same hard direction. An implacable enemy won't listen to reason; implacable grief feels endless.
The word comes from a Latin root meaning "unable to be calmed." Think of it as the opposite of flexible or forgiving. While you might try to calm someone who is angry, trying to soften an implacable force is usually useless. In literature, you often find implacable villains driven by steady hatred or ambition - characters who simply cannot be reasoned with.
"Implacable" describes something that is relentlessly severe, unyielding, and impossible to calm or pacify. It suggests a quality of being fixed in purpose, often with negative connotations like anger, hostility, or determination.
You might describe a natural force as implacable – "the implacable waves crashed against the shore," suggesting their power is unstoppable. More commonly, it's used to characterize people or emotions. An implacable enemy is one who will not be swayed by pleas or compromise; they are driven by an unshakeable resolve. An implacable sorrow is a grief that seems unending and cannot be eased.
The word carries a weight of finality and inevitability. It's stronger than simply "angry" or "determined." It implies a deep-rooted, unwavering quality that makes reconciliation or change impossible.
In literature, implacable characters often serve as powerful antagonists - figures whose motivations are so fixed they become forces of nature themselves. Think of Captain Ahab in Moby Dick, driven by an implacable desire for revenge against the white whale.
So, when something is described as implacable, remember it's not just strong or stubborn - it's utterly unyielding and incapable of being softened or changed. It represents a force that will continue relentlessly until its goal is achieved, regardless of consequences.
Examples
- 1
Personal enemy
After the court case, she knew she had made an implacable enemy.
- 2
Public opposition
There was implacable opposition to the plan from local residents.
- 3
Lasting anger
Even after he apologized, her anger remained implacable.
- 4
Government force
The government answered the protest with implacable force.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Determination
His implacable determination carried him through years of setbacks.
- Phraseimplacable determination
determination that does not weaken or soften
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- placable
- conciliatory
Used with (collocations)
- implacable enemy
- implacable opposition
- implacable hostility
Word family
- implacably
- implacability
Explore
- appeasement
- vengefulness
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- implacableadjective