IRRECOVERABLE Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

irrecoverable

adjective

ˌir-i-ˈkə-v(ə-)rə-bəl

Definition of irrecoverable

as in hopeless

not capable of being cured or reformed unfortunately, he was destined to live out his days as an irrecoverable alcoholic

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in irreversible

not capable of being repaired, regained, or undone one computer file proved to be irrecoverable after the crash

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of irrecoverable Countless documents were left lying out in the open and quickly became irrecoverable. — Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026 At the same time, much of the world is facing water bankruptcy, meaning people and industries are using more fresh water than nature can replenish, leading to irrecoverable ecosystem damages. — Abraham Nunbogu, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026 An irrecoverable loss of the entirety of our personal data. — Shannon Bond, NPR, 11 Mar. 2026 Broadly speaking, this is probably not irrecoverable damage to the ecosystem. — Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 5 Jan. 2026 Crestfallen fans have begun demanding refunds for hundreds of dollars in ticket purchases to defray irrecoverable travel and lodging costs. — Jia H. Jung, Mercury News, 11 July 2025 Customs Duties are irrecoverable whereas VAT paid by a business can in principle be reclaimed, but not always. — Robert Marchant, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irrecoverable

Adjective

There certainly are elements of both, but the Cleveland offense was hopeless.

— Zac Jackson, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
In any case, the epilogue sticks the landing and allows audiences to leave the theater feeling riled up rather than hopeless.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of hopeless

Adjective

What mattered was making sure the initial choice never became irreversible, so an organization could change models as its scale and requirements evolved.

— Sergey Stopnevich, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
One character’s private moral failure ripples outward into mass death, public catastrophe, and irreversible damage for all surrounding him.

— Henry Metz, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of irreversible

Adjective

The manufacturer of NarcX+ states that medications become irretrievable in less than two hours, and consuming any of the NarcX+ liquid will cause vomiting.

— Sunny Linnebur, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
That probably makes the loss of faith among England fans irretrievable.

— The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of irretrievable

Adjective

As part of that sentencing process, the families of those who were killed will have a chance to speak about the irreparable harm done to them — which will inevitably bring about a reopening of the wounds of loss and tragedy.

— Sharon Risher, New York Daily News, 15 Sep. 2026
To determine whether one side or the other will suffer irreparable harm.

— John E. Jones III, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of irreparable

Adjective

If the answer involves customer harm, regulatory exposure or unrecoverable decisions, AI as autonomy is being requested at the wrong scope.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
The business also has made Space Shuttle drag parachutes for the orbiter, and parachutes that deploy from the tails of F-22 and F-35 military jets to break them from unrecoverable stalls or spins.

— Pat Maio, Oc Register, 29 May 2026

Definition of unrecoverable

Adjective

In July, French lawmakers backed a similar bill to allow adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026
She was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, an incurable lung condition that led to her wearing a nasal cannula, or oxygen breathing tube, for some public appearances before her transplant.

— Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of incurable

Browse Nearby Words

irreconcilable

irrecoverable

irredeemable

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“Irrecoverable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irrecoverable. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of irrecoverable

adjective

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