IRRECONCILABLE Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

irreconcilable

adjective

Definition of irreconcilable

as in contradictory

formal so different that agreement is not possible They thought the two theories were irreconcilable with each other.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of irreconcilable Standing in their way is Marco (Will Kemp), a powerful and ruthless commander who also happens to be Balaban's brother, the two men now on a collision course shaped by old wounds and irreconcilable choices. — Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Their date of separation was listed in the documents as May 9, and the grounds for divorce are listed as irreconcilable differences. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Kidman then filed to divorce Urban citing irreconcilable differences. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 June 2026 The 41-year-old country star listed the date of separation as May 9 and cited irreconcilable differences. — Christina Dugan Ramirez , Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for irreconcilable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irreconcilable

Adjective

How’s an architect supposed to address these overlapping and contradictory rubrics, much less resolve them?

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026
Žižek’s hot takes and critical interpretations, on cinema and philosophy, are often counter-intuitive and seemingly contradictory, but never boring.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of contradictory

Adjective

The news of Sharma's capture follows conflicting reports that claimed he was taken into custody back in January.

— Renee Anderson, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
Complicating those commitments are threats from the DP World Tour to reinstitute fines for members playing in conflicting events.

— Brody Miller, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of conflicting

Adjective

The lawsuit says the decision was unlawful, unsupported by facts and inconsistent with the military’s past praise of Claude.

— Reuters, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
As a brief respite, the silly friend in your group chat, who keeps violently inconsistent hours, has shared something that will probably not break your heart, which seems as worthy an offering as any.

— Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of inconsistent

Adjective

Ella Stiller is their ingenuous aide-de-camp, Busy Philipps a flamboyant investor and Renée Elise Goldsberry as an opposing counsel who has history with Colter.

— Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Georgia is eager to see someone else on the opposing sidelines after going against itself for much of the past month during preseason practices.

— Connor Riley, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of opposing

Adjective

For such a thing, the Nuvolari seems to have come out of nowhere, which seems antithetical to the meticulous planning that brought us the R8.

— Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026
Luxury taxes are of debatable worth in sports anyway; in a division where the richest can already spend far more than the rest, imbuing them with even greater resources is antithetical to competitive balance.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of antithetical

Adjective

Faced with the dominion of the identical copy, some modern artists chose to celebrate it; others took a more critical, even antagonistic stance.

— Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
In Central America, for example, ants feed on acacia trees, a relationship that, at first glance, appeared purely antagonistic.

— Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of antagonistic

Adjective

Her husband, Bobby Lane, was driving Otwell and their two children from their Wilmar home to the Walmart in Monticello when an Arkansas State Police cruiser coming the opposite direction began behaving erratically.

— Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
Maine’s senators, from opposite parties, agree Maine’s congressional delegation has been unusually unified for a state represented by one Republican and one independent who caucuses with Democrats.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of opposite

Browse Nearby Words

irreality

irreconcilable

irrecoverable

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Irreconcilable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irreconcilable. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of irreconcilable

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

recalcitrant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes