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

The original series, in its superb first season, sought new and stark ways to shoot its fight scenes, surprising us but never inuring us to the brutal violence. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025

The neighborhood that had the lightning raid, its city and perhaps even the whole country is becoming inured to crime, the residents tell us. —David Culver, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025

There’s something about these people’s experiences that has inured them to like the spilling of blood, and the spilling of blood is very talismanic for them and sort of meaningful. —Michaela Zee, Variety, 22 Feb. 2025

That success seems to have inured him against the realities of the polls. —Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for inure

• abjure
• adjure
• allure
• assure
• brochure
• cocksure
• coiffure
• contour
• couture
• demure
• detour
• endure

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