INCLEMENT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does inclement mean? 

• INCLEMENT (adjective)
  The adjective INCLEMENT has 2 senses:

1. (of weather or climate) severe

2. used of persons or behavior; showing no clemency or mercy

  Familiarity information: INCLEMENT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INCLEMENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(of weather or climate) severe

Also:

intemperate ((of weather or climate) not mild; subject to extremes)

Antonym:

clement ((of weather or climate) physically mild)

Derivation:

inclemency; inclementness (weather unsuitable for outdoor activities)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Used of persons or behavior; showing no clemency or mercy

Context example:

the harsh sentence of an inclement judge

Similar:

unsparing (not forbearing; ruthless)

Also:

merciless; unmerciful (having or showing no mercy)

Antonym:

clement ((used of persons or behavior) inclined to show mercy)

Derivation:

inclemency (excessive sternness)

 Context examples 

The listening face, insensible to the inclement night, still drooped at the door, and the hands begged me—prayed me—not to cast it forth.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But prior research has shown that the cone shape becomes flattened during inclement weather, such as when the wind blows.

(Bees Help Researchers Confirm Theory about Maintaining Protective Clumps under Tough Conditions, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

One day he had had company to dinner, and had sent for my portfolio; in order, doubtless, to exhibit its contents: the gentlemen went away early, to attend a public meeting at Millcote, as Mrs. Fairfax informed me; but the night being wet and inclement, Mr. Rochester did not accompany them.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He has been eight years upon a project for extracting sunbeams out of cucumbers, which were to be put in phials hermetically sealed, and let out to warm the air in raw inclement summers.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

"Well, I cannot return to the house," I thought; "I cannot sit by the fireside, while he is abroad in inclement weather: better tire my limbs than strain my heart; I will go forward and meet him."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I shuddered as I stood and looked round me: it was an inclement day for outdoor exercise; not positively rainy, but darkened by a drizzling yellow fog; all under foot was still soaking wet with the floods of yesterday.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)