Inexplicable-Inextricable | Commonly Confused Words
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Inexplicable vs. Inextricable

Inexplicable

/ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪkəbəl/
Impossible to explain or understand

Examples:

The disappearance of the files was inexplicable.Her sudden laughter was completely inexplicable to everyone.It's inexplicable how the cat ended up on the roof.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Inextricable

/ˌɪnɪkˈstrɪkəbəl/
Impossible to separate or escape from because it is too closely related or complex.

Examples:

Their destinies became inextricable over the years.The rope knots were so tight and inextricable.Her thoughts were entangled in an inextricable web.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Inexplicable is related to things that cannot be explained, often associated with mysterious or baffling situations.
  • Think of inextricable as something intertwined or tangled, which cannot be separated or undone easily.
  • To remember inexplicable, associate it with the root word explain – it points to things resistant to explanation.
  • Inextricable contains the root extricate, which means to free or release; hence, inextricable suggests the opposite – something not easily untangled.
  • In essence, inexplicable involves a lack of understanding, while inextricable involves a lack of separation.
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