1
as in hopeless
not capable of being cured or reformed
unfortunately, he was destined to live out his days as an irrecoverable alcoholic
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in irreversible
not capable of being repaired, regained, or undone
one computer file proved to be irrecoverable after the crash
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of irrecoverable
During the Kursk operation, the enemy has already lost over 38,000 soldiers in this single direction alone, with approximately 15,000 of them irrecoverable losses.
—
Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
This kind of situation occurs when irrecoverable past investments drive decisions, even when those costs are irrelevant to future outcomes.
—Shanna Apitz, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
The damage done by Biden-Harris is not irrecoverable.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2024
In Germany, bad debt relief requires that the debt is considered irrecoverable, assessed based on the individual facts of each case.
—Aleksandra Bal, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024
The resulting jet of propellant that vented into space acted as an impromptu rocket that could have pushed the spacecraft into an irrecoverable tumble.
—Michael Greshko, Scientific American, 19 Jan. 2024
The West in fact faces a crucial choice right now: support Ukraine so that its leaders can defend their territory and prepare for a 2025 offensive or cede an irrecoverable advantage to Russia.
—Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 3 Jan. 2024
Two of these horses were euthanized on the day of the Derby itself after suffering irrecoverable injuries, their trainers told The Associated Press.
—Justin Klawans, The Week, 9 May 2023
One line of thinking is that Russian forces would execute a swift, overwhelming strike meant to inflict massive and irrecoverable losses on the Ukrainian military that would spur a political capitulation (and possibly a change in government) in Kyiv.
—Nolan Peterson, WSJ, 20 Jan. 2022
Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
This kind of situation occurs when irrecoverable past investments drive decisions, even when those costs are irrelevant to future outcomes.
—Shanna Apitz, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
The damage done by Biden-Harris is not irrecoverable.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2024
In Germany, bad debt relief requires that the debt is considered irrecoverable, assessed based on the individual facts of each case.
—Aleksandra Bal, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024
The resulting jet of propellant that vented into space acted as an impromptu rocket that could have pushed the spacecraft into an irrecoverable tumble.
—Michael Greshko, Scientific American, 19 Jan. 2024
The West in fact faces a crucial choice right now: support Ukraine so that its leaders can defend their territory and prepare for a 2025 offensive or cede an irrecoverable advantage to Russia.
—Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 3 Jan. 2024
Two of these horses were euthanized on the day of the Derby itself after suffering irrecoverable injuries, their trainers told The Associated Press.
—Justin Klawans, The Week, 9 May 2023
One line of thinking is that Russian forces would execute a swift, overwhelming strike meant to inflict massive and irrecoverable losses on the Ukrainian military that would spur a political capitulation (and possibly a change in government) in Kyiv.
—Nolan Peterson, WSJ, 20 Jan. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irrecoverable
Adjective
-
Limit Media Exposure Without Putting Your Head in the Sand Staying informed is essential for leaders, but constantly consuming the news can leave you feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.—
Amy Blankson,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Collette plays Muriel, who escapes from her hopeless life via her devoted fandom to the Swedish supergroup.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Nevertheless, the data is a glaring reminder that the planet is inching closer to irreversible damage.—
Rachel Frazin,
The Hill,
14 Jan. 2025
-
The Japanese Foreign Ministry has warned that the country has until about 2030 before the trend is irreversible.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
Newsweek,
9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
And there was data that was lost, that was irretrievable.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
2 Jan. 2025
-
Once deleted, users can also manually empty the trash folder, making those files and communications irretrievable and truly deleted from the online platform.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes,
26 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Hunt Realty argues the alignment will cause irreparable harm to the Reunion development and hinder long-term economic opportunities in downtown Dallas.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
-
The Justice Department insisted that putting the deadline on ice would cause irreparable harm.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Richards had revealed in early 2024 that she’d been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an incurable brain cancer.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
20 Jan. 2025
-
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
Adjective
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The damaged flight data recorder had been deemed unrecoverable for data extraction by South Korean authorities, who sent it to the United States for analysis at the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board laboratory.—
Paolo Confino,
Fortune Asia,
11 Jan. 2025
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Only the heart’s memory, a delicate thread that binds us to eternity, tries to recover the unrecoverable — the fleeting moment with its mood, colors, and sounds.—
Andriy Sodomora (Tr. Sabrina Jaszi & Roman Ivashkiv),
The Dial,
12 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near irrecoverable
Cite this Entry
“Irrecoverable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irrecoverable. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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