Unavoidable
/ˌʌnəˈvɔɪdəbəl/
Definitions
Impossible to prevent or escape; certain to happen.
/ˌʌnəˈvɔɪdəbəl/
Impossible to prevent or escape
The traffic jam was unavoidable given the accident ahead.
💡 Simply: Something that you *can't* stop from happening, like a spilled drink if you're clumsy! Or when it rains when you forget your umbrella.
👶 For kids: Something that has to happen and you can't stop it.
More Examples
Death is an unavoidable part of life.
The financial crisis led to unavoidable job losses.
How It's Used
"The court ruled that the company was liable for the unavoidable consequences of its actions."
"In some cases, surgery is an unavoidable step in treating the illness."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
From "un-" (not) + "avoidable" (capable of being avoided). "Avoidable" derives from the verb "avoid", which traces back to Old French "esvuidier" meaning "to empty out, evade".
The word "unavoidable" began to appear in English texts in the 16th century, initially reflecting a sense of things not being able to be escaped or shirked.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant boulder rolling down a hill. You *cannot* stop it—it's unavoidable!
Word Origin
"not able to be turned away"