inflexibly

/ɪnˈfleksəbli/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈfleksəbli/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˈ)in ən+/ (ame, mw)

inflexibly — adverb

1. while refusing to adjust a rule, opinion, or plan, even when the situation clear

1.副詞C1
釋義

while refusing to adjust a rule, opinion, or plan, even when the situation clearly calls for a different approach

例句

The new principal inflexibly enforced the dress code, even on the hottest summer days.

adverb modifying verb of strict rule application

Piotr stuck inflexibly to his budget, refusing to spend a dollar more on the kitchen.

stick + inflexibly + to + plan collocation

同義詞
  • rigidly

    very close synonym; slightly less formal and more common in everyday writing

  • stubbornly

    implies emotional resistance and personal will; more about character than principle

  • unyieldingly

    literary; suggests heroic or admirable persistence as often as criticism

  • dogmatically

    emphasises blind devotion to a doctrine or belief system

反義詞
  • flexibly

    direct opposite; willingness to adjust to circumstances

  • leniently

    specifically for rules, punishments, or judgements

用法筆記

Strongly negative connotation — implies the speaker thinks the rigid stance is unwise or unfair. Distinguish from sense 2 by context: sense 1 describes attitudes, rules, and decisions; sense 2 describes physical objects or materials.

常見錯誤

❌She inflexibly the rules.
✅She applied the rules inflexibly.
💡'inflexibly' is an adverb, never a verb; it must modify a verb such as 'apply', 'enforce', 'hold', or 'stick to'.
❌He spoke inflexibly about the new plan.
✅He spoke firmly about the new plan.
💡'inflexibly' describes refusal to change a position, not the manner of speaking; 'firmly' fits a single statement.

2. while resisting any physical bending or change of shape, staying stiff under pre

2.副詞C1
釋義

while resisting any physical bending or change of shape, staying stiff under pressure

例句

The steel beams stood inflexibly upright, even as the wind pushed against the tower.

physical resistance to bending forces

Maeve found that the old leather boots sat inflexibly, hardened by years of neglect.

同義詞
  • stiffly

    more common in everyday speech for physical rigidity

  • rigidly

    interchangeable here; rigidly is the higher-frequency choice

反義詞
  • loosely

    describes the opposite physical state — easy movement

  • flexibly

    able to bend or stretch

用法筆記

Much rarer than sense 1. Subject is usually an inanimate object, material, or body part held immobile. Sense 2 is neutral or descriptive in tone, unlike sense 1's critical edge.

常見錯誤

❌My back feels inflexibly.
✅My back feels stiff.
💡for a feeling of physical tightness in your own body, use 'stiff' or 'rigid'; 'inflexibly' modifies a verb, not a state of being.