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 Apparently, the files are irrecoverable and the production company, Mastiff, must go back to the drawing board and recut the entire season again. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2026 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

Pettus said watching Patterson's progress and seeing her family in a home of their own has been especially meaningful after a period that once seemed hopeless.

— Jennifer Bisram, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Approximately 18% of all Latino high school students have seriously contemplated suicide and 42% of Latino youths reported constantly feeling sad or hopeless, recent congressional studies found.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of hopeless

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

The accusation concerned the family’s claim of future irreparable harm and the need for immediate court intervention.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
The other two judges, Kelly and Tymkovich, concluded the NCAA made a sufficient showing under the factors governing stays pending appeal, including on the merits and irreparable harm.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of irreparable

Adjective

In March, Toku launched an AI agent that not only chases payments over WhatsApp, email, or voice, but can also arrange repayment plans—which the company says has reduced unrecoverable debts by up to half.

— Harry Booth, Time, 30 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of unrecoverable

Adjective

After all there’s nothing very funny about an incurable disease that traps you inside your body.

— Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
The issue roiled French politics for years before lawmakers recently approved legislation allowing adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 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 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of irrecoverable

adjective

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