inextricably

USAGE SUMMARY

"inextricably" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an adverb that means that something is complicated or difficult to separate or unravel. For example, "The two stories were inextricably intertwined."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Opinion

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The last is commonly regarded to have been at Coniston, Northern Territory, in 1928 – notwithstanding the countless other acts of extreme violence (including custodial deaths) inextricably linked to colonialism, that have since been perpetrated against Indigenous Australians.

The Guardian

Like many Brazilian families, their lives were inextricably meshed by economies of scale.

The Guardian

Like Burnham, she carries the burden of the past as a former minister in Brown's government who is inextricably associated with Balls.

The Guardian

The mango sort is one of my favourites, ripe mangoes being inextricably linked in my mind with India, but the recipe below is versatile enough to work with most fruits, or no fruit at all.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That is why our struggle for feminism is linked inextricably to our struggle for a secular space.

The Guardian - Opinion

The gravity of Keating's speech lies in its unambiguous acknowledgment that past crimes are inextricably – practically, emotionally, symbolically – linked to present Indigenous disadvantage.

The Guardian - Opinion

Education is especially inextricably linked to achieving gender equality: as UNICEF states, "universal primary education by definition requires gender parity".

The Guardian

De Oude Pijp is inextricably connected to the rich history of perhaps our most famous export product: Heineken beer.

The Guardian - Travel

Meanwhile the net continued to close in on some of those senior Fifa executives with whom he had been inextricably linked down 40 years at Fifa, 17 of them as president.

The Guardian - Sport

When the founder is so inextricably linked with the organisation's identity, there is no way to change, improve or advance things without fundamentally attacking who they are.

The Guardian

What applies here is: An agreement is an agreement!" Meanwhile, Germany's left-leaning die Tageszeitung reported that "the victory of Syriza is a chance for Greece to free itself from the decades of corruption and nepotism, with which both the conservative New Democracy and the social democratic Pasok were inextricably bound".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "inextricably" to emphasize a strong, often complex, and inseparable connection between two or more things. It adds a sense of depth and permanence to the relationship.

Common error

Avoid using "inextricably" in simple or straightforward sentences where a more common adverb like "closely" or "directly" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "inextricably" is to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating the manner in which an action is performed or a quality is possessed. It emphasizes the impossibility of separating the connected elements, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Opinion

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Travel

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "inextricably" is a versatile adverb used to describe relationships that are so closely connected that they cannot be separated. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It is prevalent in news and media, as well as formal writing, to emphasize strong, often complex, associations. While it is widely accepted, it is best used when a strong sense of inseparability is intended and should be avoided in simple sentences where it can sound pretentious. Ludwig provides ample examples of its effective usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inseparably

Underscores the inability to divide or distinguish between two things.

indissolubly

Emphasizes the unbreakable nature of the bond, suggesting a permanent connection.

completely interwoven

Stresses that items are mixed or twisted together so that they cannot easily be separated.

integrally

Stresses that something is an essential part of a whole.

firmly intertwined

Highlights the interwoven nature of the connection, making it hard to separate.

intimately

Focuses on the close and personal nature of the connection.

tightly bound

Indicates a strong and secure connection, like something tied together.

intricately

Highlights the complex and detailed nature of the connection.

deeply connected

Emphasizes the profound and significant nature of the relationship.

closely linked

A more straightforward way to express a strong association.

FAQs

How can I use "inextricably" in a sentence?

Use "inextricably" to describe things that are so closely connected that they cannot be separated. For example, "Their fates are inextricably linked."

What can I say instead of "inextricably"?

You can use alternatives like "inseparably", "integrally", or "indissolubly" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say something is "inextricably tied" to something else?

Yes, "inextricably tied" is a common and correct usage. It emphasizes the strong and inseparable nature of the connection. The Ludwig AI confirms that "inextricably" is correct and appropriate for use in writing.

What is the difference between "inextricably" and "closely"?

"Inextricably" implies a bond that is impossible to untangle or separate, while "closely" simply suggests a strong association. "Inextricably" indicates a deeper, more fundamental connection.