INFLEXIBILITY Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

inflexibility

noun

Definition of inflexibility

as in severity

the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) the principal's inflexibility in matters of discipline is the stuff of school legend

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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 inflexibility Before Ramos’ injury, rookie Bryce Eldridge was receiving inconsistent playing time, partly due to the roster’s inflexibility. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 June 2026 The frustration is in the inflexibility. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026 The Red Sox could also try to move on from Masataka Yoshida, though his contract, injury history and positional inflexibility will hamper his trade value. — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026 Roster inflexibility could further complicate matters. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026 And many folks thought that that was a type of dogmatism and inflexibility that was not productive. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026 But there is also such a thing as being too good, where your own purity takes precedence over all else, leading to inflexibility and inaction. — Shadi Hamid, Time, 3 Nov. 2025 An impressive defensive coach, he has occasionally been criticized for a certain regular season inflexibility in his rotations and overplaying his best contributors. — Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025 However, the reality is that the inherent inflexibility of immutability is essential to ensuring business resiliency and provides the invaluable peace of mind that comes with knowing data will always be there, ready to be recovered, no matter what. — David Bennett, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflexibility

Noun

Following a major hailstorm, for example, connected property intelligence can help carriers quickly assess affected neighborhoods, triage claims based on severity and deploy field resources where they're needed most.

— David Tobias, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The 24-year-old Italian pulled out of this week’s Cincinnati Open with the same issue, and has been undergoing medical tests in Milan and Turin throughout August to assess its severity.

— James Hansen, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of severity

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inflects

inflexibility

inflexible

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“Inflexibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflexibility. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of inflexibility

noun

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