adjective

irresistible

ir-ih-ZIS-tuh-buhl/ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbl/

Too appealing or powerful to resist.

The wind's irresistible force pushes her backward despite her effort to stand firm.

An overpowering gust defeats a woman's visible effort to stand firm: she leans into the wind with bent knees, but her shoes skid backward and her umbrella turns inside out.

Etymology

irLatinnot

+reLatinagainst

+sistLatinstand firm

+ibleLatincapable of being

Standing firm against something is the original image behind resistance. Irresistible describes what cannot be withstood, whether an overpowering force or an attraction too tempting to refuse.

In context

Smarter While You Sleep141:18

Holding back is a powerful psychological strategy that can create an irresistible sense of curiosity in others. When you intentionally withhold information, you trigger a natural instinct in people to seek answers and fill in the gaps.

100 Savage Psychology Tricks That Give You Unfair Control

More examples

The warm bread smelled irresistible.
She found the invitation irresistible.
An irresistible urge to laugh interrupted his speech.

Forms

irresistible

Similar words

compelling: Strongly attracts attention without necessarily making resistance impossible.
enticing: Enticing attracts without necessarily being impossible to resist.