inviolable

/ɪnˈvaɪələbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈvaɪələbl/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)in-ˈvī-ə-lə-bəl/ (ame, mw)

inviolable — adjective

  • inviolablepositive
  • more inviolablecomparative
  • most inviolablesuperlative

1. describes rules, rights, or principles that must always be respected and can nev

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describes rules, rights, or principles that must always be respected and can never be broken, taken away, or disregarded under any circumstance

例句

The judge told the court that the right to a fair trial is inviolable under the constitution.

inviolable right to a fair trial

For the Wang family, the tradition of eating dinner together every Sunday was an inviolable rule.

inviolable rule

同義詞
  • absolute

    emphasises that there is no exception; a more general word that applies to power, truth, or standards

  • inalienable

    used specifically for rights that cannot be taken away; less common outside legal and political contexts

  • sacrosanct

    carries a stronger religious or moral overtone; implies something is treated as holy or too important to criticise

反義詞
  • violable

    the direct opposite; very rare in everyday English

  • conditional

    suggests that the thing depends on circumstances and can be changed

  • negotiable

    implies that the rule or limit can be discussed and adjusted

文法句型

inviolable + noun (attributive)

be + inviolable (predicative)

用法筆記

Commonly used in legal and ethical contexts with nouns such as right, principle, rule, or boundary. Frequently appears with the verb treat or consider in passive or predicative constructions.

常見錯誤

❌My personal diary is inviolable, so anyone can read it.
✅My personal diary is inviolable, so no one should read it.
💡Inviolable means something CANNOT be violated, not that it MAY be.
❌The general himself was inviolable during the attack.
✅The general's position was inviolable during the attack.
💡Inviolable describes a principle, rule, right, or place, not a person directly.

2. describes a place, position, or structure that is protected against physical att

2.形容詞C1
釋義

describes a place, position, or structure that is protected against physical attack, so that no one can enter or damage it by force

例句

The bunker was built deep underground and was considered inviolable against aerial attack.

inviolable against aerial attack

The bank's main vault was reinforced with steel doors and was considered inviolable against any method of forced entry.

inviolable against forced entry

同義詞
  • impregnable

    specifically describes a fortress or position that cannot be taken by force; more common in military writing

  • impenetrable

    focuses on the difficulty of entering; can be literal (walls, forests) or figurative (mysteries, codes)

  • unassailable

    the closest synonym; can mean either physically secure or logically impossible to dispute

反義詞
  • vulnerable

    the most common opposite; suggests weakness and openness to attack

  • defenseless

    zero protection; a stronger, more dramatic opposite

  • exposed

    highlights the lack of shelter or cover against attack

文法句型

inviolable + noun (attributive)

be + inviolable (predicative)

用法筆記

Often used in military or security contexts. Commonly followed by against to specify the type of attack.

常見錯誤

❌The castle was inviolable to the weather.
✅The castle was inviolable against enemy attack.
💡Inviolable is used for deliberate attack or intrusion, not natural conditions.