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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Irresistible: Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：extremely tempting (irresistible)

irresistible 🔊

/ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbl/

adj.

so attractive or tempting that you cannot say no to it.

Irresistible temptation illustrated by a person longing for chocolate cake.

extremely tempting 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈstriːmli ˈtɛmp.tɪŋ/

adj.

Describes something with an overwhelming appeal or charm that makes refusal very difficult.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'in-' (not) + 'resistere' (to resist), meaning 'not able to be resisted'.

💡 Mnemonic

IR + RESIST + IBLE = CANNOT RESIST. Think of something you simply cannot say no to.

📖 Example

My classmate's smile was so warm and genuine that it felt completely irresistible to join his study group. 🔊 The invitation was so appealing that it felt impossible to decline.

🔗 Collocations

irresistible offer – a proposal so good it is very hard to refuse

irresistible urge – a very strong, almost uncontrollable desire to do something

irresistible charm – an extremely attractive and pleasing personality or quality

🔄 Synonyms

compelling (adj.) – evoking strong interest or attention, making action feel necessary

tempting (adj.) – appealing and attractive, inviting one to do something

alluring (adj.) – powerfully attractive or fascinating

🚫 Antonyms

resistible (adj.) – able to be refused or withstood

repellent (adj.) – causing strong dislike or aversion

unappealing (adj.) – not attractive or interesting

🌱 Derivatives

irresistibly (adv.) – in an impossible-to-resist manner

irresistibility (n.) – the quality of being impossible to resist

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from the Latin verb 'resistere' ('to stand back, oppose'), combined with the negative prefix 'in-'. It entered English in the late 16th century, often used in theological contexts to describe divine grace or will that cannot be opposed. Today, it's frequently used in marketing and advertising to describe products or offers that are overwhelmingly appealing.

Meaning 2：impossible to stop (irresistible)

irresistible 🔊

/ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbl/

adj.

extremely strong and impossible to stop or prevent.

Irresistible force depicted by a powerful ocean wave crashing.

impossible to stop 🔊

➕

/ɪmˈpɒs.ə.bəl tə stɒp/

adj.

Describes a force, momentum, or trend that is so powerful it cannot be halted or prevented.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The team's positive spirit created an irresistible momentum that carried them to victory. 🔊 The forward movement was so powerful it could not be stopped.

🔗 Collocations

irresistible force – an overwhelmingly powerful power or influence

irresistible momentum – a forward movement or progress that cannot be halted

irresistible argument – a case or reasoning that is impossible to contradict or defeat

🔄 Synonyms

overpowering (adj.) – so strong as to be overwhelming

unstoppable (adj.) – unable to be stopped or prevented

inevitable (adj.) – certain to happen; unavoidable

🚫 Antonyms

resistible (adj.) – capable of being withstood or opposed

weak (adj.) – lacking the power to perform physically demanding tasks

stoppable (adj.) – able to be halted or prevented