implacable

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Episode Date: July 13, 2026
Word: implacable
Host: Peter Sokolowski

This episode focuses on the meaning, etymology, and usage of the word “implacable.” Host Peter Sokolowski delves into its definition, real-world examples, and linguistic background, helping listeners expand their vocabulary and understand the nuances of this powerful adjective.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definition and Pronunciation

• Implacable (spelled I-M-P-L-A-C-A-B-L-E) is an adjective.
• Meaning: "Not capable of being appeased or changed."
• Someone or something described as implacable cannot be soothed and is often resolute or relentless.
  • (00:42) “Implacable is an adjective. Someone or something described as implacable is not capable of being appeased or changed.” — Peter Sokolowski

2. Usage Example

• The host provides a rich example from The Economist, showcasing “implacable” in a sentence and contrasting literary worlds:
  • (00:59) “Unlike, say, the globetrotting stories of Ian Fleming or John Le Carre, in which victories only temporarily frustrate an implacable foe, Agatha Christie's smaller worlds feel put right when the COVID closes or credits roll.”

3. Etymology & Linguistic Roots

• Implacable is rooted in the Latin verb placare, meaning "to soothe."
• The IM- prefix is a variant of the negating prefix IN-, indicating the opposite, as in “inactive.”
  • (01:22) “But its IM prefix is a variant of the negating pref in IN, as in inactive, and it signals that there's nothing warm and fuzzy here.”
• The word is generally used in contexts denoting hostility or relentless opposition.

4. Usage Contexts and Related Words

• Commonly paired with words such as foe, enemy, hatred, and hostility.

  • (01:36) “Implacable is most often attached to words like foe, enemy, hatred, and hostility.”

• The antonym, placable, exists but is rarely used.

  • (01:44) “The opposite of implacable, of course, is placable. It means easily soothed but sadly isn't called upon very often.”

• Placate is a related and more familiar word, meaning “to soothe or appease.”

  • (01:53) “Placate means to soothe or appease. It's frequently applied when an angry person is made to feel less so.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Etymology:

  • (01:22) “But its IM prefix is a variant of the negating pref in IN, as in inactive, and it signals that there's nothing warm and fuzzy here.” — Peter Sokolowski

• On Usage Example:

  • (00:59) “In which victories only temporarily frustrate an implacable foe, Agatha Christie's smaller worlds feel put right when the COVID closes or credits roll.” — Quoting The Economist

• On Opposites:

  • (01:44) “The opposite of implacable, of course, is placable. It means easily soothed but sadly isn't called upon very often.” — Peter Sokolowski

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:42 — Introduction of today’s word: implacable
• 00:59 — Example sentence from The Economist
• 01:17 — Etymology: Latin placare and the IM prefix
• 01:36 — Typical usage and word associations
• 01:44 — Antonym “placable” and related word “placate”

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Episode Tone & Takeaway

Peter Sokolowski presents the word “implacable” in a clear, engaging tone, blending etymology with practical usage. The episode encourages listeners to appreciate the depth behind seemingly simple adjectives and to enrich their vocabulary with precise, powerful words. Listeners come away with not just a definition, but a nuanced understanding of how “implacable” functions in language and literature.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign. It's Merriam Webster's Word of the Day for July 13th.

[B]

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[A]

today's word is implacable, spelled I M, P, L, A, C A B L E. Implacable is an adjective. Someone or something described as implacable is not capable of being appeased or changed. Here's the word used in a sentence from the Economist. Unlike, say, the globetrotting stories of Ian Fleming or John Le Carre, in which victories only temporarily frustrate an implacable foe, Agatha Christie's smaller worlds feel put right when the COVID closes or credits roll. Implacable is rooted in the Latin verb placare, meaning to soothe. But its IM prefix is a variant of the negating pref in I n, as in inactive, and it signals that there's nothing warm and fuzzy here. Someone or something described as implacable cannot be soothed, which usually means trouble. Implacable is most often attached to words like foe, enemy, hatred, and hostility. The opposite of implacable, of course, is placable. It means easily soothed but sadly isn't called upon very often. Another placare word is likely more familiar. Placate means to soothe or appease. It's frequently applied when an angry person is made to feel less so with your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.

[C]

Visit merriamwebster.com today for definitions, wordplay and trending. Word lookups.