irresistible


Also found in: Thesaurus, Wikipedia.

ir·re·sis·ti·ble

 (ĭr′ĭ-zĭs′tə-bəl)
adj.
1. Impossible to resist: an irresistible impulse to sneeze.
2. Having an overpowering appeal: irresistible beauty.
3. Usage Problem Inevitable or inexorable.

ir′re·sis′ti·bil′i·ty, ir′re·sis′ti·ble·ness n.
ir′re·sis′ti·bly adv.
Usage Note: The word irresistible is sometimes used to mean "bound to happen, unstoppable, inevitable." A majority of the Usage Panel objects to this usage. In our 2006 survey, some 65 percent rejected the sentence The rise of liberal blogs was irresistible, given the broader climate of political debate.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

irresistible

(ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbəl)
adj
1. not able to be resisted or refused; overpowering: an irresistible impulse.
2. very fascinating or alluring: an irresistible woman.
ˌirreˌsistiˈbility, ˌirreˈsistibleness n
ˌirreˈsistibly adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ir•re•sist•i•ble

(ˌɪr ɪˈzɪs tə bəl)

adj.
1. not resistible; incapable of being resisted or withstood: an irresistible impulse.
2. enticing; alluring; tempting to possess: an irresistible necklace.
[1590–1600; < Medieval Latin]
ir`re•sist`i•bil′i•ty, ir`re•sist′i•ble•ness, n.
ir`re•sist′i•bly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.irresistible - impossible to resist; overpowering; "irresistible (or resistless) impulses"; "what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?"
resistible - capable of being resisted or withstood or frustrated; "a resistible attack"; "such resistible temptations"
2.irresistible - overpoweringly attractive; "irresistible beauty"
attractive - pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm; "a remarkably attractive young man"; "an attractive personality"; "attractive clothes"; "a book with attractive illustrations"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

irresistible

adjective
1. overwhelming, compelling, overpowering, urgent, potent, imperative, compulsive, uncontrollable, overmastering It proved an irresistible temptation to go back.
3. inescapable, inevitable, unavoidable, sure, certain, fated, destined, inexorable, ineluctable They feel the case for change is irresistible.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
لا يُقاوَم
neodolatelný
uimodståelig
vastustamaton
ómótstæîilegur
neatvairāms
neodolateľný
karşı konulamaz

irresistible

[ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbl] ADJirresistible
she had an irresistible urge to yawnle entraron unas ganas irresistibles de bostezar
she looked irresistible in her new dressestaba irresistible en su vestido nuevo
he is irresistible to womenlas mujeres lo encuentran irresistible
an irresistible political forceuna fuerza política a la que es imposible resistirse
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

irresistible

[ˌɪrɪˈzɪstɪbəl] adj
[urge, desire] → irrésistible
[force, pressure] → irrésistible
(= very attractive) [person, charm] → irrésistible; [excitement, challenge] → irrésistible
his irresistible charm → son charme irrésistible
He found her wit irresistible → Il trouvait son esprit irrésistible.
(= tempting) [food] → irrésistible
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

irresistible

adjunwiderstehlich (to für); he is irresistible to womener wirkt auf Frauen unwiderstehlich; he was in irresistible form (Sport) → er war in unschlagbarer Form; the truth is irresistible (form)die Wahrheit kommt immer ans Licht
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

irresistible

[ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbl] adjirresistibile
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

irresistible

(iriˈzistəbl) adjective
too strong, delightful, tempting etc to be resisted. He had an irresistible desire to hit her.
ˌirreˈsistibly adverb
ˈirreˌsistiˈbility noun
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in classic literature ?
Mirabel, on his social side, is an irresistible companion.
"The price of the irresistible gun would have been much greater, your Majesty, but for the fact that its missiles can be so effectively averted by my peculiar method of treating the armour plates with a new- "
But in the exulting illusion of irresistible might a long series of military successes brings to a nation the less obvious aspect of such a fortune may perchance be lost to view.
That certain sultanism of his brain, which had otherwise in a good degree remained unmanifested; through those forms that same sultanism became incarnate in an irresistible dictatorship.
Major Fitz-David set matters right in his own irresistible way.
The genuine wonder expressed in the young man's face was irresistible.
Comparing the humped herds of whales with the humped herds of buffalo, which, not forty years ago, overspread by tens of thousands the prairies of Illinois and Missouri, and shook their iron manes and scowled with their thunder-clotted brows upon the sites of populous river-capitals, where now the polite broker sells you land at a dollar an inch; in such a comparison an irresistible argument would seem furnished, to show that the hunted whale cannot now escape speedy extinction.
George had stood like one transfixed, at hearing his doom thus suddenly pronounced by a power that he knew was irresistible. He folded his arms, tightly pressed in his lips, but a whole volcano of bitter feelings burned in his bosom, and sent streams of fire through his veins.
The fact was, as Emma could now acknowledge, that Harriet had always liked Robert Martin; and that his continuing to love her had been irresistible.Beyond this, it must ever be unintelligible to Emma.
This objection is plausible, and, to Spacelanders, almost irresistible, so that, I confess, when I first heard it, I knew not what to reply.
Was he being devoured by one of those secret rages, all the more terrible because contained, and which only burst forth, with an irresistible force, at the last moment?
You may advance and be absolutely irresistible, if you make for the enemy's weak points; you may retire and be safe from pursuit if your movements are more rapid than those of the enemy.