irreparable

I1R1R1E1P3A1R1A1B3L1E1
/ɪˈɹɛp(ə)ɹəbəl/nonstandard/ɪɹəˈpæɹəbəl/nonstandard/ɪɹəˈpɛ(ə)ɹəbəl/

adjective

Incapable of being repaired, amended, cured or rectified; unrepairable.

Opposite
reparable
OriginMiddle French irréparable ← Latin irreparabilis →
Less commonScrabble 15
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Meanings

adjectiveirreparable (comparative more irreparable, superlative most irreparable)

comparative more irreparable · superlative most irreparable

  1. Incapable of being repaired, amended, cured or rectified; unrepairable.

    “Florida has struck an unholy bargain with the Trump administration,” one speaker said. “People are not getting food, hygiene, or medical care. These conditions are substandard and cause irreparable harm.”

    2025 August 1, Jamie Guirola, “'Alligator Alcatraz' detainees on hunger strike for 10th day, protesting conditions”, in NBC News, archived from the original on 08 Aug 2025
    1 more example

    It was impoſſible that the queen of France [Marie Antoinette] ſhould not be deeply affected by a conteſt, which ſo cloſely involved her neareſt and deareſt connections, and threatened ſo immediate and perhaps irreparable a breach of the harmony and friendſhip ſubſiſting between them.

    1787, “The History of Europe”, in The Annual Register, or A View of the History, Politics, and Literature, for the Years 1784 and 1785, volume XXVII, London: Printed by J[ames] Dodsley, in Pall-Mall, →OCLC, chapter VIII, page 134, column 1

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveimpossible to repair, rectify, or amend

Opposite
reparable
Also see
incorrigibleunrepairableunsalvableunsalvageableunsavable

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinirreparabilis
  2. Middle Frenchirréparable
  3. Englishirreparable

From Middle French irréparable, from Old French, from Latin irreparabilis, equivalent to ir- + reparable.

More words from Middle French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian непоправим
  • непоправим (nepopravim)that is unable to be repaired
Catalan irreparable
  • irreparablethat is unable to be repaired
Dutch onherstelbaar
  • onherstelbaarthat is unable to be repaired
Finnish korjauskelvoton, peruuttamaton
  • korjauskelvotonthat is unable to be repaired
  • peruuttamatonthat is unable to be repaired
French irréparable
  • irréparablethat is unable to be repaired
German irreparabel, nicht reparierbar
  • irreparabelthat is unable to be repaired
  • nicht reparierbarthat is unable to be repaired
Greek ανεπανόρθωτος
  • ανεπανόρθωτος (anepanórthotos)that is unable to be repaired
Latin irredivīvus
  • irredivīvusthat is unable to be repaired
Polish nie do naprawienia, nienaprawialny
  • nie do naprawieniathat is unable to be repaired
  • nienaprawialnythat is unable to be repaired
Portuguese irreparável
  • irreparávelthat is unable to be repaired
Russian неисправи́мый, невосстанови́мый
  • неисправи́мый (neispravímyj)that is unable to be repaired
  • невосстанови́мый (nevosstanovímyj)that is unable to be repaired
  • непоправи́мый (nepopravímyj)that is unable to be repaired
Spanish irreparable
  • irreparablethat is unable to be repaired
Swedish irreparabel, olaglig
  • irreparabelthat is unable to be repaired
  • olagligthat is unable to be repaired
Ukrainian непопра́вний
  • непопра́вний (nepoprávnyj)that is unable to be repaired
Cite this entry
APA

irreparable. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/irreparable

MLA

“irreparable.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/irreparable. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “irreparable,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/irreparable.

Source: irreparable on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.