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irreparable
[ ih-rep-er-uh-buhl ]
adjective
- not reparable; incapable of being rectified, remedied, or made good:
an irreparable mistake.
irreparable
/ ɪˈrɛpərəbəl; ɪˈrɛprəbəl /
adjective
- not able to be repaired or remedied; beyond repair
Derived Forms
- ˌ貹ˈٲ, noun
- ˈ貹, adverb
Other Word Forms
- ·a··i·ٲ ·a···Ա noun
- ·a·· adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of irreparable1
Example Sentences
He accused Israel of a "genocidal campaign" against the Palestinians, adding that Israel's "crimes" put Palestinians at risk of irreparable harm.
But his critics fear he is doing irreparable harm to the country and overstepping his powers - crippling important government functions and perhaps permanently reshaping the presidency in the process.
But the lesson for Americans couldn’t be clearer, even at a moment when the domestic carnage inflicted by the Trump regime feels limitless and irreparable.
Some locals told the BBC that they feared tourists would be scared away, causing irreparable harm to their businesses and Kashmir's economy.
Alongside the proposed mass cuts to Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for low-income Americans, she said, “I would worry it would do irreparable damage.”
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Related Words
Irreparable Vs. Unrepairable
’s the difference between irreparable and unrepairable?
Irreparable and unrepairable both mean just about the same thing: unable to be repaired or fixed.
They can be used in overlapping ways, but they are usually used in different contexts and situations.
Irreparable is the more commonly used word. It can be applied to objects, such as machines or appliances, that can’t be repaired, but it’s perhaps most commonly used in the context of intangible things like circumstances and relationships. It’s especially used with the word damage, as in I’m afraid I’ve done irreparable damage to my reputation or The iceberg caused irreparable damage to the ship’s hull.
On the other hand, unrepairable is typically reserved for physical objects that can’t be fixed, such as cars, tables, or computers, as in I hate that a lot of appliances are manufactured in a way that makes them unrepairable. Still, unrepairable can also be applied to intangible things in the same way that irreparable usually is.
Here’s an example of irreparable and unrepairable used correctly in a sentence.
Example of irreparable: Sources close to the team say that the relationship between the coaches and the players is irreparable at this point.
Example of unrepairable: I’m really hoping my mechanic doesn’t tell me my car is unrepairable—I really don’t want to buy a new one.
Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between irreparable and unrepairable.
Quiz yourself on irreparable vs. unrepairable!
True or False?
Irreparable and unrepairable can sometimes be used interchangeably.
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