the irrevocable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the irrevocable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that cannot be changed, reversed, or undone, often in legal or formal contexts. Example: "The decision made by the committee is final and the irrevocable choice that we must all accept."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

But the irrevocable has not yet happened.

The New York Times

He warned of the irrevocable harm diplomatic disclosures might do.

The New York Times

"George Anderson" concludes in fear and impotence, and the irrevocable fact of Fales's guilt by association.

The New York Times - Books

"The statists and the Islamists are standing against the irrevocable march of history".

The New York Times

"Well, since you ask, the gray goose represents the irrevocable destiny of the working class".

The New Yorker

Instead both have to face the irrevocable fact of the Internet: There's always another choice.

The New York Times - Arts

The "irrevocable agreement" would give the Barclays control of the holding company.

The New York Times

That first savage uppercut that so visibly jolted Blackwell's head may have caused the irrevocable damage.

The Guardian - Sport

"The Lee regime will be held fully accountable for the irrevocable catastrophic consequences to be entailed".

The New York Times

That is the irrevocable sentence that Basque society gave to E.T.A. last Sunday".

The New York Times

The heavy rainfall of Panama makes operation feasible despite the irrevocable loss of large quantities of water with each transit.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the irrevocable" when you want to emphasize that a decision or action cannot be undone or reversed. It adds a sense of finality and seriousness to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "the irrevocable" in casual conversations or informal writing. Its formal tone can sound overly dramatic or stilted in everyday situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the irrevocable" functions primarily as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is final and cannot be reversed or undone. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Encyclopedias

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the irrevocable" is a correct and frequently used expression to emphasize the finality and unchangeability of something, as validated by Ludwig AI. It functions as a determiner phrase, most often appearing in news articles, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. When writing, it's best to reserve this phrase for formal contexts where you want to convey the seriousness and permanence of a situation, decision, or action. While alternatives like "the unchangeable" or "the irreversible" exist, "the irrevocable" adds a unique sense of finality that's hard to replicate, and it's advisable to avoid overuse in informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the unchangeable

Focuses on the aspect of being impossible to alter or modify.

the irreversible

Emphasizes the inability to return to a previous state or condition.

the unalterable

Highlights the quality of being not capable of being changed.

the unrecallable

Focuses on the aspect of being impossible to call back or revoke.

the irremediable

Highlights the impossibility of remedying or correcting a situation.

the final

Emphasizes the conclusive and definitive nature of something.

the binding

Focuses on the quality of being obligatory and irreversible in a contractual sense.

the permanent

Highlights the enduring and lasting nature of something, suggesting it cannot be undone.

the inevitable

Emphasizes the certainty and unavoidability of an event or outcome.

the fateful

Highlights the significant and unchangeable impact of a particular event.

FAQs

How is "the irrevocable" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "the irrevocable" usually precedes a noun, emphasizing that the noun's state or condition cannot be reversed. For example, "the irrevocable decision" or "the irrevocable damage".

What are some alternatives to using "the irrevocable"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "the unchangeable", "the irreversible", or "the final".

Is it redundant to say "the irrevocable and final"?

While not strictly incorrect, saying "the irrevocable and final" can be redundant since "irrevocable" already implies finality. Using just "the irrevocable" is usually sufficient.

What's the difference between "the irrevocable" and "the irreversible"?

"The irrevocable" emphasizes the inability to retract or reverse a decision or action, while "the irreversible" focuses on the inability to return to a previous state or condition. They are often interchangeable, but "irrevocable" is usually used with decisions, agreements, or processes, and "irreversible" with changes or processes.