Inflexible Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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inflexible

[ɪnˈflɛksəbəl ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

personality trait

Not willing to change or compromise; stubborn and rigid in beliefs or opinions. People who are inflexible often have difficulty adapting to new situations or ideas.

Synonyms

rigid, stubborn, unyielding.

Examples of usage

  • He was so inflexible in his views that he refused to consider any alternative perspectives.
  • The inflexible nature of the company's policies led to low employee morale.
Context #2 | Adjective

physical attribute

Not capable of being bent or easily altered in shape; rigid or stiff. Inflexible materials do not bend or flex easily.

Synonyms

rigid, stiff, unbending.

Examples of usage

  • The inflexible metal rod could not be bent to fit the desired shape.
  • The inflexible plastic packaging cracked when pressure was applied.

Translations

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Origin of 'inflexible'

The word 'inflexible' originated from the Latin word 'inflexibilis', which means 'not capable of being bent'. It has been used in the English language since the 14th century. Over time, 'inflexible' has retained its core meaning of being rigid or stubborn in various contexts.


See also: flex, flexibility, flexible, flexibly, flexibound, flexing, flexure, inflexibility.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,391, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.