as in contradictory
formal
so different that agreement is not possible
They thought the two theories were irreconcilable with each other.
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Recent Examples of irreconcilable
The vow to avoid war in Iran, for example, seems largely irreconcilable with the decision to wage war on Iran.
—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
But that claim seemed irreconcilable with the project’s scale within a park that already had such limited open space.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 4 Mar. 2026
But if Judd’s literalism and Caro’s illusionism represent the extreme and irreconcilable ends of the artistic spectrum during the ’60s and ’70s, Bove’s work integrates and combines these apparent artistic antipodes with a contemporary twist.
—Gordon Hughes, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
How irreconcilable is the clash between maintaining or building middle-class wealth on the one hand, and making housing more affordable to a wide swath of renters and would-be owners on the other?
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irreconcilable
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
But that claim seemed irreconcilable with the project’s scale within a park that already had such limited open space.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 4 Mar. 2026
But if Judd’s literalism and Caro’s illusionism represent the extreme and irreconcilable ends of the artistic spectrum during the ’60s and ’70s, Bove’s work integrates and combines these apparent artistic antipodes with a contemporary twist.
—Gordon Hughes, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
How irreconcilable is the clash between maintaining or building middle-class wealth on the one hand, and making housing more affordable to a wide swath of renters and would-be owners on the other?
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irreconcilable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irreconcilable
Adjective
-
Initial accounts given to relatives were contradictory — one early report incorrectly identified buffalo as the cause.—
Ryan Brennan
April 28,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In that order, Judge Susan van Keulen said government lawyers confirmed the USCIS has a duty to issue a timely decision on an application — and also that the holds are indefinite, two contradictory arguments.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
While chia seeds have nutrients linked to cholesterol management, research shows conflicting evidence about their direct impact on cholesterol levels.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
30 Apr. 2026
-
If voters approve conflicting ballot measures, the one with more yes votes would take effect.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
After two inconsistent seasons, Johnson became a consensus first-team All-American last year, rushing for 1,537 yards and a school-record 22 touchdowns.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Melissa Horner’s inconsistent presence in the home seemed to upset her son’s routines.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Throughout the ballpark, Padres jerseys far outnumbered those worn in support of the opposing Arizona Diamondbacks.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Plays in the opposing offenses’ backfield, attacking style, team captain, really impactful player.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Although the report did explicitly denounce gross imbalances in the international flows of information, it was still considered by many to be too vague, production-oriented, and most importantly, antithetical to the Western model of market freedom.—
Stijn Joye,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
-
But what passes for branding in commercial circles is antithetical to democratic values when a sitting president puts his name on federal property and policy initiatives, say experts.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Their announcement was a departure from what has been the more typically adversarial relationship between Mamdani and Menin, who stand on different ends of the Democratic Party spectrum and have developed mostly antagonistic positions in the city’s budget process.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Federal efforts to kill the project California must also contend with a federal government antagonistic toward offshore wind.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And since bond yields (rates) move in the opposite direction as prices, yields have been pushing higher.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
At the opposite end, the foredeck is equipped with a huge sunpad.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irreconcilable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irreconcilable. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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