Master confusing words with ease
Inexplicable vs. Inextricable
Inexplicable
/ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪkəbəl/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/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:
- Inexplicable relates to things that cannot be explained easily, focusing on mystery.
- Inextricable involves something that cannot be separated or untangled, often used in complex situations.
- Remember that inexplicable ends in -able suggesting a state of being unable to explain, while inextricable suggests something cannot be extracted or untangled.
- Think of explicable as being able to provide a reason – its negative form inexplicable means you can't.
- The extri in inextricable shares the concept of extraction, making it easier to link to tangling or intertwining intervened elements.
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