Inexplicable vs. Inexplicably — What's the Difference?

nexplicable is an adjective used to describe something that cannot be explained or understood. For example, "The disappearance of the keys was inexplicable," suggests that there is no logical reason for the event. Inexplicably, on the other hand, is an adverb describing how an action occurs in an unexplainable manner. For example, "The keys inexplicably vanished," indicates that the manner of their disappearance cannot be explained.

Inexplicable fits into sentences to qualify nouns, giving them the quality of being beyond explanation. For example, "The incident was inexplicable," indicates that the incident itself cannot be logically understood. Inexplicably modifies verbs, describing the manner in which an action is performed. For example, "She inexplicably left the party early," suggests that her early departure cannot be explained.

Inexplicable emphasizes the nature of something being unexplainable. For instance, "He had an inexplicable fear of heights," indicates a fear with no apparent reason. Inexplicably stresses the mysterious or unexplainable way in which something happens. For example, "The project inexplicably failed despite all the hard work," focuses on the surprising nature of the failure.