irreparable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word “irreparable” is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective that is typically used to describe something that is beyond repair, or cannot be fixed. For example, “The bridge was so badly damaged in the storm that the damage was irreparable.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We are continuing our campaign, and continue to lobby for intervention from Ed Vaizey and Jeremy Hunt (who are responsible for superintending library services nationwide) to avoid yet more needless waste of public money and irreparable damage to our library service.

The Guardian - Books

I said that if all nuclear weapons stockpiled primarily by the US and the Soviet Union were divided into 1,000 parts, then even one of them would be enough to cause irreparable damage to all life on Earth.

The Guardian

Sure, there are cases where a manager's position has become untenable and a change has to be made, but from my experience and understanding, with a bit more effort from the club very few struggling relationships are irreparable.

The Guardian - Sport

The rift became irreparable, when Anwar — named by Newsweek as man of the year in 1998 — went on a campaign against corruption and cronyism that rankled many of the elite, including Mahathir's son, Mirzan who had myriad business dealings.

The Guardian

The estrangement, as Strauss called it, seems irreparable – however many runs Pietersen scores.

The Guardian - Sport

El Salvador wanted to wait until it could determine whether it was possible to mine without causing irreparable environmental damage.

The Guardian

This is mischievous because, obviously, massively increasing coal exports at this time will do irreparable damage to our climate.

The Guardian

If they're a known liability this could lead to irreparable damage.

The Guardian

The Trimble camp may have survived a closer than expected battle with the anti-Good Friday agreement wing of the deeply divided party, but the skirmish could do irreparable harm to both unionism and the peace process.

The Guardian

"It would be better if those who have created irreparable damages with their strategic mistakes and lofty politics would adopt responsible policies," he said.

The Guardian

In the end the damage in London proved irreparable.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "irreparable", ensure the context clearly indicates what is damaged or lost, and the nature of the damage or loss is significant and cannot be rectified.

Common error

Avoid using "irreparable" for minor damages or easily fixable issues. This weakens the impact and can be perceived as hyperbole. Reserve it for situations where the damage is truly beyond recovery.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "irreparable" primarily functions as a pre-modifying adjective, describing nouns to indicate that they are beyond repair. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies something that cannot be fixed or remedied. The examples show its usage in diverse contexts such as "irreparable damage" or "irreparable loss".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "irreparable" signifies something beyond repair, widely used across various contexts, primarily in News & Media as evidenced by Ludwig's examples. According to Ludwig AI, it’s a grammatically correct and usable term, emphasizing the severity and finality of a situation. While synonyms like "irrecoverable" and "irretrievable" exist, "irreparable" is best reserved for situations with significant and unrectifiable damage. Remember to avoid overuse in minor situations to maintain its impact. Using "irreparable" correctly conveys the gravity of a situation, enhancing the clarity and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

irrecoverable

Focuses on the inability to get something back, emphasizing loss.

irremediable

Highlights the impossibility of providing a remedy or cure.

irretrievable

Stresses that something cannot be retrieved or recovered.

beyond repair

A more literal expression indicating that something is too damaged to be fixed.

beyond restoration

Emphasizes the impossibility of returning something to its original state.

permanently damaged

Highlights the lasting nature of the damage.

unsalvageable

Focuses on the inability to rescue or save something from destruction.

irreversible

Emphasizes the inability to change something back to its previous state.

beyond hope

Indicates that there is no possibility of a positive outcome or recovery.

terminally damaged

Suggests that the damage is so severe it will inevitably lead to a negative outcome.

FAQs

How do you use "irreparable" in a sentence?

Use "irreparable" to describe something that cannot be repaired or recovered, such as, "The flood caused "irreparable damage" to the crops."

What's a synonym for "irreparable"?

Synonyms for "irreparable" include "irrecoverable", "irremediable", and "irretrievable". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "irreparable" and "irreversible"?

"Irreparable" means something cannot be repaired or fixed, while "irreversible" means something cannot be changed back to its previous state. Damage can be "irreparable", while a decision can be "irreversible".

Is it correct to say something has "irreparable harm" or "irreparable damage"?

"Irreparable harm" and "irreparable damage" are both correct and commonly used phrases. The choice depends on whether you're emphasizing the impact on a person or entity (harm) or the physical state of something (damage).