irreconcilable

Everyday

1. Irreconcilable ideas, views or differences are so different that they can never be made to agree. tree →
2. Irreconcilable people cannot become friends again after a quarrel. tree →

In the lessons

A formal word used in news, law and history: countries with irreconcilable aims, couples with «irreconcilable differences» who divorce. In stories it shows that a quarrel will never be mended. Phrases: irreconcilable differences, irreconcilable views.

Examples

• The two sides had irreconcilable views about the new road. tree →
• The brothers were irreconcilable after their quarrel. tree →
• Their irreconcilable differences ended the band. tree →
• The witnesses gave irreconcilable stories — they can't both be true. tree →
• The judge said the two facts were irreconcilable. tree →
• The countries' aims were irreconcilable, and war followed. tree →

Note

Spelling: double r — ir-REC-on-CILE-able. Prefix «ir-» means «not»; «reconcile» means make friends or make agree. Formal; in speech say «can't be sorted out» or «will never agree». In logic: two irreconcilable statements cannot both be true.