Impersuadable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

  1. Incapable of being convinced or persuaded by argument, evidence, or appeal
  2. Resistant to all attempts at convincing or changing one's mind through reasoning or persuasion
  3. Unwilling or unable to be swayed from a chosen position regardless of arguments or evidence presented

Etymology: The adjective in question stems from the combination of the negative prefix "im-" and the root "persuadable." The prefix "im-" is a variant of "in-," derived from Latin, which negates the meaning of the base word. "Persuadable" itself comes from the verb "persuade," which originates from Latin "persuadere," meaning "to convince or induce someone by argument." Thus, the word literally means "not able to be persuaded." "Persuade" entered English around the late 15th century, initially carrying the sense of influencing someone's mind or opinion through reason or appeal. The adjective form "persuadable" developed later by adding the suffix "-able," which was commonly used in English from the 15th century onward to form adjectives indicating capability or susceptibility. By attaching the negative prefix, the resulting term conveys resistance to persuasion. This formation fits into a broader pattern in English where "im-" negates adjectives starting with "p" or "b" sounds (such as "impossible" or "impolite"). The word is relatively rare and might be considered a more formal or literary way to describe someone or something that cannot be convinced or swayed. Overall, the term neatly encapsulates its meaning through classical Latin roots and standard English morphological patterns, arriving at a straightforward negation of the ability to be persuaded.

Synonyms: inflexible, unyielding, immovable, unshakeable, adamant

Antonyms: persuadable, flexible, yielding, compliant, submissive