verb · C2

Inure

i-NY-oor/ɪˈnjʊə/

To inure is to harden someone by habit so that an unpleasant thing no longer shocks: be inured to delay, inured to noise. Used to and hardened are everyday; enure is an older spelling, and enure to in law can mean “take effect for someone’s benefit”. Do not become inured to a missing n.

Meaning

To become used to something unpleasant so that it no longer affects you (be inured to).

Examples

“Do not become inured to a missing n because last year was worse.”
“Used to is everyday. Hardened is close. Immune to (already in the dictionary) is “not affected”, often medical. Endure is suffer through — a lookalike. Habit is not a methods standard. Last year’s mess does not license this year’s.”

Good to know

Harden by habit (usually be inured to). Everyday: used to / hardened. Mix-up: endure (suffer); immune (not affected). Custom is not a defence.

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