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

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

After he was diagnosed with incurable grade 4 brain cancer in June 2023, Long developed a series of pioneering treatments inspired by melanoma breakthroughs. —Janine Henni, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024

In the film, Claudia is diagnosed with an incurable illness and decides to end her life on her own terms at a clinic in Switzerland. —Jamie Lang, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024

Édith and Sébastien organized the trip after learning that three of their kids – Mia, Colin, and Laurent – would eventually go blind because of the incurable eye condition retinitis pigmentosa. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 Nov. 2024

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