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 of irreparable

• irreversible
• irremediable
• irretrievable

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

In law, irreparable harm means an injury that monetary damages cannot fully remedy. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 July 2026

It gets made irreparable by confirming what people thought at the outset. — Jon Michail, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Levi’s and Wrangler jeans, once common enough, have become scarce, or when finally unearthed turn out to be damaged in some irreparable way. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 27 July 2026

Parties seeking either kind of preliminary relief must show a likelihood of success on the merits, a likelihood of irreparable harm in the absence of a court order, and that the order would be in the public interest. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 20 July 2026

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

Rhymes for irreparable

• separable
• inseparable

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