# What is the real difference between the words "unavoidable" and "inevitable"?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-difference-between-the-words-unavoidable-and-inevitable/421648
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 5, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-difference-between-the-words-unavoidable-and-inevitable/421648 "2007-10-05T16:26:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-difference-between-the-words-unavoidable-and-inevitable/421648/1 "2007-10-05T16:26:50Z")
This has bothered me for a long time, the use of “unavoidable” when to me “inevitable” sounds much better.
Looking it up on [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com):
> [@](#):
>
> [Unavoidable](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/unavoidable)
> unable to be avoided; inevitable: an unavoidable delay.
> [@](#):
>
> [Inevitable](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/inevitable)
> –adjective 1. unable to be avoided, evaded, or escaped; certain; necessary: an inevitable conclusion.
> 2. sure to occur, happen, or come; unalterable: The inevitable end of human life is death.
> –noun 3. that which is unavoidable.
The fact that the former cites the latter as a definition makes me :dubious:. And yet, I can’t see much difference beyond this: Inevitable for some reason sounds like a more long-term idea, more like destiny or fate than what’s going to happen tomorrow.
Are they the same word? Or is there a substantial difference I am missing?
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-difference-between-the-words-unavoidable-and-inevitable/421648/2 "2007-10-05T16:33:56Z")
The death of the sun is inevitable.
The deer in the road was unavoidable.
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### Author:  [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2007, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-difference-between-the-words-unavoidable-and-inevitable/421648/3 "2007-10-05T16:38:06Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord]
The deer in the road was unavoidable.
[/QUOTE]
In my area, the deer in the road is inevitable as well. 😉
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2007, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-difference-between-the-words-unavoidable-and-inevitable/421648/4 "2007-10-05T16:43:46Z")
I agree with **Harmonious Discord** : the fine distinction between the two is that _inevitability_ is an inherent quality, not the result of choices which have been made. Something becomes _unavoidable_, something does not become _inevitable_.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2007, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-difference-between-the-words-unavoidable-and-inevitable/421648/5 "2007-10-05T17:20:17Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow]
I agree with **Harmonious Discord** : the fine distinction between the two is that _inevitability_ is an inherent quality, not the result of choices which have been made. Something becomes _unavoidable_, something does not become _inevitable_.
[/QUOTE]
Thank you, that is a great explanation, and it only reinforces my superstition that people around me have been using them interchangeably when they are not in fact so. I’ll be sure to point this out, it’s bound to make me really popular! 😃
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-difference-between-the-words-unavoidable-and-inevitable/421648/6 "2007-10-05T17:36:39Z")
I always figured that inevitability implies a time element; it’s an event that will happen in the future. Unavoidability could be used to describe something that occurs for a variety of reasons. I believe Harmonius Discord was making the same point; if you hit a deer in the road it might have been unavoidable but it was not inevitable.
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-difference-between-the-words-unavoidable-and-inevitable/421648/7 "2007-10-05T18:49:25Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika]
Thank you, that is a great explanation, and it only reinforces my superstition that people around me have been using them interchangeably when they are not in fact so. I’ll be sure to point this out, it’s bound to make me really popular! 😃
[/QUOTE]
Well, would you consider it inevitable or unavoidable that you would make a decision that would bring such popularity to you?
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-difference-between-the-words-unavoidable-and-inevitable/421648/8 "2007-10-05T19:03:41Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb]
Well, would you consider it inevitable or unavoidable that you would make a decision that would bring such popularity to you?
[/QUOTE]
Unavoidable that I would make the decision, inevitable the result that follows.
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### Author:  [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2007, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-difference-between-the-words-unavoidable-and-inevitable/421648/9 "2007-10-06T07:13:25Z")
Sometimes either can be used. My eventual death is both inevitable and unavoidable, and both mean pretty much the same thing.
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### Author:  [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2007, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-real-difference-between-the-words-unavoidable-and-inevitable/421648/10 "2007-10-06T07:43:11Z")
[QUOTE=Mosier]
Sometimes either can be used. My eventual death is both inevitable and unavoidable, and both mean pretty much the same thing.
[/QUOTE]
Well, yes, I agree, but
**Look Out!** TRUUUCCCKKKK!!!
Ah, hell.