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

Ex-Deutsche Bank AG executive Michele Faissola is seeking as much as £500 million ($669 million) in his UK lawsuit over allegations the lender caused irreparable harm to his career, according to people familiar with the matter. —Arno Schütze, Bloomberg, 19 Mar. 2026

The administration argued in court that benefits fraud in Colorado necessitated a pilot program, that the federal government had the ability to mandate such a program and that the state did not show the immediate, irreparable harm that would warrant a preliminary injunction. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026

Emotional abuse by coaches, some athletes maintain, can cause lasting, even irreparable damage. —NPR, 15 Mar. 2026

Because making contact at this point runs the risk of scratching the sensor and doing irreparable damage. —Jacob Little, Space.com, 12 Mar. 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