unreconcilable

English

Etymology

un- +‎ reconcilable

Adjective

unreconcilable (comparative more unreconcilable, superlative most unreconcilable)

1. Irreconcilable.
   • c. 1606–1607, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:

     But yet let me lament […] that our stars, / Unreconcilable, should divide / Our equalness to this.

   • 2004, John Edward Russon, Reading Hegel's Phenomenology, page 154:

     Kant's embrace of an unreconcilable contradiction at the foundation of human experience is not a turn to irrationalism; indeed, it is hard to imagine a more rigorous and rational thinker than Kant.

Usage notes

• Unreconcilable occurs with about 2% of the frequency of irreconcilable in both COCA and BNC.

Synonyms

• irreconcilable

Derived terms

• unreconcilably

Translations

irreconcilable — see irreconcilable

Noun

unreconcilable (plural unreconcilables)

1. A person or thing that cannot be reconciled.
   • 2015 July 20, “Hard Realities in Afghanistan”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     Rather than the beginning of a new era of calm and prosperity for Afghans, a peace deal with the Taliban will split the movement, divide the reconcilable elements of the insurgency with the unreconcilables who see compromise as capitulation, and provide a small Islamic State faction in the country with the men and support they need to grow.

Further reading

• “unreconcilable”, in Collins English Dictionary.
• “unreconcilable, adj.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “unreconcilable”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “unreconcilable”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “unreconcilable” in TheFreeDictionary.com, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.: Farlex, Inc., 2003–2024.