Irreconcilable
/ˌɪrɪˈkɒnsɪləbl/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Irreconcilable describes a situation where two or more things cannot be brought together in agreement or harmony. It means the differences or conflicts are so strong that they cannot be solved or made peaceful. This word is often used for serious disagreements, conflicts, or ideas that cannot be joined or matched.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Impossible to agree or bring together
- •Their views on politics were irreconcilable, so they stopped talking.
- •The couple had irreconcilable differences and decided to separate.
- •The contract failed because the parties had irreconcilable demands.
Conflicts or differences that cannot be solved
- •The two companies had irreconcilable conflicts about how to run the business.
- •Irreconcilable ideas in the group made teamwork impossible.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "irreconcilable" like "different" (A1 word), but MUCH stronger—so different that you cannot make them fit or agree
- ✓Picture two puzzle pieces that look like they should fit but are actually from different puzzles and never connect
- ✓It's the feeling when two friends argue and cannot find a way to make up or understand each other
- ✓Sounds like "eye-ree-CON-si-lable" → Imagine two people saying "I cannot reconcile" meaning "I cannot come together"
- ✓Think of famous stories where families or countries have irreconcilable fights that last a long time without peace
- ✓NOT like "different" (which can be small or easy to accept)—irreconcilable means too big or serious to fix
- ✓NOT like "disagree" (which can be simple)—irreconcilable means no chance of agreement at all
- ✓NOT like "temporary problem"—irreconcilable means the problem is permanent or very hard to change
Try Other Words
- •Incompatible: unable to exist or work together (Use when things or people cannot live or work together well)
- •Conflicting: having opposite ideas or interests (Use when ideas or interests do not agree but may still be discussed)
- •Unresolvable: cannot be solved or fixed (Use when problems cannot be solved, often in formal contexts)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "ir-" means "not" or "no"
- •Root: "reconcile" means "to bring together" or "to make agree"
- •Suffix: "-able" means "able to be done"
- •Etymology: From Latin "irreconcilabilis," meaning "not able to be brought together"
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1600s to describe things that cannot be made to agree or fit
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in law, relationships, and conflicts to describe serious, unsolvable differences
Reflect & Connect
•Can two people with irreconcilable differences still respect each other? How?
•When is it better to accept irreconcilable differences instead of trying to fix them?
Fill in the blanks
1.The two sides had irreconcilable ___ that made any agreement impossible.
2.Irreconcilable differences often lead to ___ or the end of a relationship.
3.Unlike small disagreements, irreconcilable conflicts cannot be ___ easily.
4.When opinions are irreconcilable, people usually ___ their own views without changing.
5.The manager found the team’s irreconcilable problems ___ to solve quickly.
6.In law, irreconcilable differences can be a reason for ___ a contract or marriage.
7.If two ideas are irreconcilable, it means they cannot ___ or work together.