inure

verb

in·​ure i-ˈnu̇r 

-ˈnyu̇r

variants or less commonly enure

i-ˈnu̇r 

-ˈnyu̇r,

e-

inured; inuring

transitive verb

: to accustom to accept something undesirable

children inured to violence

intransitive verb

: to become of advantage

policies that inure to the benefit of employees

inurement

i-ˈnu̇r-mənt 

-ˈnyu̇r

noun

Synonyms

• fortify
• harden
• indurate
• season
• steel
• strengthen
• toughen

Examples of inure in a Sentence

Does violence on television inure children to violence in real life?

the hardship of army training inured her to the rigors of desert warfare

Recent Examples on the Web

Four adults and two children were inured in collision, including 5-year-old Ariel Young, who sustained a traumatic brain injury and was in a coma for 11 days. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2024

But the West has also become, to some extent, inured to the North Korean threat. —Sue Mi Terry, Foreign Affairs, 19 Jan. 2023

And investment banks, long inured to cultural change, are rapidly turning into Exhibit A on how the new technology could not only supplement but supplant entire ranks of workers. —Rob Copeland, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024

Swisher’s towering career and monumental achievements warrant scrutiny rather than inure her from it. —Paolo Confino, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enuren, from in ure customary, from putten in ure to use, put into practice, partial translation of Anglo-French mettre en ovre, en uevre

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

inure

verb

in·​ure in-ˈ(y)u̇(ə)r 

inured; inuring

1

: to make less sensitive : harden

inured to cold

2

: accrue sense 1

Legal Definition

inure

intransitive verb

in·​ure i-ˈnu̇r, -ˈnyu̇r 

inured; inuring

: to become of advantage

—usually used in the phrase inure to the benefit of