Synonyms
Examples of irreversible in a Sentence
He suffered an irreversible loss of vision.
The crisis has done irreversible harm to the countries' relations.
Recent Examples on the Web
In court filings, Rosen cited the irreversible nature of the death penalty, and thus the inability to guarantee due process, as grounds for the petition.
—
Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
After months of aggressive treatment with chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy, the cancer shrunk, but his lungs were sustaining irreversible damage.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
Permanent, irreversible liver damage called cirrhosis can result and people who are badly affected may develop liver failure where the only suitable treatment is a transplant.
—Victoria Forster, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
This elevated pressure poses a risk of damaging the optic nerve, which relays visual information to the brain, leading to irreversible vision loss.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Mar. 2024
Many observers have come to believe—incorrectly—that Japan’s extended economic slump is irreversible.
—Richard Katz, Foreign Affairs, 31 Jan. 2024
Inhaling asbestos fibers, even in small amounts, can cause irreversible scarring of the lungs as well as malignant mesothelioma.
—Coral Davenport, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024
The upcoming total solar eclipse promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but viewing the celestial spectacle without proper eye protection can cause irreversible damage.
—George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024
This fragmented system, combined with research indicating that many doctors deviate from lead testing guidelines, allows exposures to go undetected until irreversible neurological damage has been done.
—Aaron Specht, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024
Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
After months of aggressive treatment with chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy, the cancer shrunk, but his lungs were sustaining irreversible damage.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
Permanent, irreversible liver damage called cirrhosis can result and people who are badly affected may develop liver failure where the only suitable treatment is a transplant.
—Victoria Forster, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
This elevated pressure poses a risk of damaging the optic nerve, which relays visual information to the brain, leading to irreversible vision loss.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Mar. 2024
Many observers have come to believe—incorrectly—that Japan’s extended economic slump is irreversible.
—Richard Katz, Foreign Affairs, 31 Jan. 2024
Inhaling asbestos fibers, even in small amounts, can cause irreversible scarring of the lungs as well as malignant mesothelioma.
—Coral Davenport, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024
The upcoming total solar eclipse promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but viewing the celestial spectacle without proper eye protection can cause irreversible damage.
—George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024
This fragmented system, combined with research indicating that many doctors deviate from lead testing guidelines, allows exposures to go undetected until irreversible neurological damage has been done.
—Aaron Specht, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'irreversible.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Irreversible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irreversible. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
irreversible
adjective
ir·re·vers·ible
ˌir-i-ˈvər-sə-bəl 
: impossible to reverse
an irreversible chemical reaction
irreversible damage
Medical Definition
irreversible
adjective
ir·re·vers·ible
ˌir-i-ˈvər-sə-bəl
: incapable of being reversed : not reversible
an irreversible medical procedure
: as
a
: impossible to make run or take place backward
irreversible chemical syntheses
b
of a colloid
: incapable of undergoing transformation from sol to gel or vice versa
c
of a pathological process
: of such severity that recovery is impossible
irreversible brain damage
Legal Definition
irreversible
adjective
ir·re·ver·si·ble
ˌir-rə-ˈvər-sə-bəl
: not reversible
an irreversible decision
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