irreparable

adjective

ir·​rep·​a·​ra·​ble i-ˈre-p(ə-)rə-bəl 

ˌi(r)-,

also nonstandard

ˌir-(r)ə-ˈper-ə-bəl 

: not reparable : irremediable

irreparable damage

irreparableness noun

irreparably

i-ˈre-p(ə-)rə-blē 

ˌi(r)-

 also nonstandard  ˌir-(r)ə-ˈper-ə-blē

adverb

Synonyms

• irrecoverable
• irredeemable
• irremediable
• irretrievable
• irreversible
• unrecoverable
• unredeemable

Examples of irreparable in a Sentence

The oil spill did irreparable harm to the bay.

The damage to their relationship was irreparable.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is the formal, technical, and maybe even industry term for exactly what viewers will suspect; the ornate sitting room of the Staten Island mansion where a group of vampires gather to lounge, fight, and occasionally hypnotize a private school principal to the point of irreparable brain damage. —Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2024

In the ruling, Judges Eric Clay and Karen Moore argued that the groups risk irreparable harm if pipeline construction begins before the judges decide their case. —Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2024

The third, on an 0-and-2 heater down the middle to Fernando Tatis Jr., did irreparable harm. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024

Data breaches can expose sensitive customer information, leading to regulatory fines, lawsuits and irreparable damage to a company's reputation. —Francis Dinha, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin irreparabilis, from in- + reparabilis reparable

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

irreparable

adjective

ir·​rep·​a·​ra·​ble (ˈ)ir-ˈ(r)ep-(ə-)rə-bəl 

: not capable of being repaired or regained

an irreparable loss

irreparably

-blē 

adverb

Legal Definition

irreparable

adjective

ir·​rep·​a·​ra·​ble i-ˈre-pə-rə-bəl, -prə-bəl 

: impossible to repair, remedy, or undo

irreparably adverb