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

The government's removal would result in irreparable harm including exposure to violence, persecution, and family separation. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025

Perhaps the Administration will eventually lose in court, but the harm already done will be irreparable. —Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025

Divesture of these precious lands, that belong to all citizens rich and poor, would be an irreparable tragedy. —Mike Dombeck, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2025

If there was any hurt, if there was any friction in her life, if there was any trauma in her life, would that moment only now compound in a way that would be irreparable? —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025

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