Words / C2

skl-uh-ROT-ik/skləˈrɒtɪk/

Sclerotic means becoming rigid and unresponsive; unable to adapt (of an organisation or system; also medical, of sclerosis): a sclerotic committee, sclerotic rules. Stiff (already in the dictionary) is everyday hard to bend; rigid and inflexible (already in the dictionary) are unwilling to change — the close twins. To ossify (already in the dictionary) is to harden into an inflexible habit — the close verb. Flexible (already in the dictionary) is the everyday opposite. Bureaucratic (already in the dictionary) is full of slow official rules. This batch: desuetude is disuse, of a thing left idle, not of a living system stuck. Last year’s workaround is not this year’s protocol.

Meaning

Becoming rigid and unresponsive; unable to adapt (of an organisation or system).

Examples

• “A sclerotic workaround from last year is not this year’s protocol.”
• “Stiff is hard to bend (already in B2). Rigid is unwilling to change (already in C1). Inflexible is unwilling or unable to change (already in C1). To ossify is to harden into inflexibility (already in C2). Flexible is able to change (already in B1) — the contrast. Bureaucratic is full of red tape (already in C1). Desuetude is a state of disuse (this batch). A dated protocol can still be short. Habit instead of this year’s rule is a hole. Write this year’s line; leave last year’s patch.”

Good to know

Rigid and unable to adapt. Everyday-close: stiff (already in B2). Close: rigid / inflexible (already in C1); ossify (already in C2). Contrast: flexible (already in B1). This batch: desuetude. Last year ≠ this year’s protocol.

Near in meaning

rigid, inflexible, ossified, unresponsive

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