expression
irresistible; compelling; unable to help oneself
Describes a strong inner urge or external pressure that makes one act despite oneself. Often used in the pattern 〜やむにやまれず or 〜やむにやまれぬ to mean 'unable to stop oneself' or 'driven by an irresistible force'. The expression is somewhat literary and formal.
やむにやまれぬ事情で、彼は会社を辞めた。
Due to compelling circumstances, he quit his job.
やむにやまれず、彼女は真実を話した。
Unable to help herself, she told the truth.
This is the adverbial form of the same expression, meaning 'unable to stop oneself' or 'driven by necessity'. It is used to modify a verb, while やむにやまれない is the attributive or predicative form.
A slightly more literary or archaic variant of やむにやまれない, with the same meaning. ぬ is the classical negative ending.
The expression is a reduplication of the verb 止む (to stop) in its negative form, literally 'not stopping even if one stops'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used since classical Japanese to express an irresistible compulsion.