Indeniable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A fact or truth that is so clear and obvious that it cannot be disputed or denied in any reasonable argument
2. Impossible to reject or question due to overwhelming evidence or clarity
3. So convincingly true or certain that it defies any rejection or doubt

Etymology: "Indeniable" is a rare variant of "undeniable," and it is built in the plainest way possible: the prefix "in-," meaning "not," attached to "deniable," which is itself "deniable," meaning able to be denied. So the word literally means "not able to be denied," the same logic that gives us "invaluable" or "inexpressible." The interesting twist lies in the prefix. English has two common negating prefixes, "un-" and "in-," and they were once more interchangeable than they are now. "In-" is the older Latin-derived form, while "un-" is native Germanic, and English speakers have long sorted words between them according to habit rather than strict rule. "Undeniable" became the standard choice, so "indeniable" survives mainly as a less common alternative spelling-form, sometimes felt as a slightly unusual or emphatic variant.

Synonyms: undeniable, irrefutable, unquestionable, incontrovertible, certain

Antonyms: debateable, questionable, disputable, doubtful, uncertain