incurable

adjective

in·​cur·​able (ˌ)in-ˈkyu̇r-ə-bəl 

: not curable

an incurable disease

broadly : not likely to be changed or corrected

incurable optimism

incurable noun

incurably

(ˌ)in-ˈkyu̇r-ə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• hopeless
• incorrigible
• irrecoverable
• irredeemable
• irreformable
• irremediable
• irretrievable
• unrecoverable
• unredeemable

Examples of incurable in a Sentence

an incurable flirt at school dances

Recent Examples on the Web

While Richards’ family did not disclose her cause of death in the statement, Richards spoke openly with CNN’s Anderson Cooper last June about her battle with glioblastoma– an aggressive type of brain cancer that is incurable and has a survival rate of 12 to 18 months. —Michelle Krupa, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025

Richards had revealed in early 2024 that she’d been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an incurable brain cancer. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 20 Jan. 2025

Farrell, 48, ran the marathon to raise money for DEBRA, an Irish charity that supports people living with the incurable genetic condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB) — also known as butterfly skin — like Fogarty. —Gabriella Rudy, NBC News, 28 Oct. 2024

Still, a year before her record-tying stint at the Olympics, she was diagnosed with two incurable kidney diseases that almost stopped her in her tracks. —Rachel Murphy, Health, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin incurabilis, from Latin in- + curabilis curable

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

incurable

adjective

in·​cur·​able (ˈ)in-ˈkyu̇r-ə-bəl 

: not capable of being cured

incurably

-blē 

adverb

Medical Definition

incurable

adjective

in·​cur·​able (ˈ)in-ˈkyu̇r-ə-bəl 

: impossible to cure

an incurable disease

incurably

-blē 

adverb