irrepairable
Definition
- Adjective:
- Not able to be repaired: "irrepairable" describes something that cannot be fixed or restored to a good or working condition. This applies to physical objects, relationships, or abstract concepts.
Usage Examples
- (The damage was so severe that the machine could not be fixed.)
- (The trust was broken so deeply that the relationship could not be restored.)
Advanced Usage
"irrepairable harm": harm that cannot be undone or corrected.
- The environmental disaster caused irrepairable harm to the ecosystem. (The damage to nature was permanent and could not be reversed.)
"irrepairable loss": a loss that cannot be recovered or compensated.
- The death of the leader was an irrepairable loss to the community. (The loss was so profound that nothing could replace it.)
Variants and Related Words
Irrepairably (adverb): in a manner that cannot be repaired.
- The vase was irrepairably shattered. (The vase was broken so completely that it could never be fixed.)
Repairable (adj): able to be fixed or restored (the opposite of "irrepairable").
- The scratch on the car is repairable. (The scratch can be fixed easily.)
Synonyms
Irreparable: more common spelling; meaning the same as "irrepairable."
- The damage was irreparable. (The damage could not be fixed.)
Unfixable: informal; unable to be fixed.
- The watch is unfixable. (The watch cannot be repaired.)
Related Idioms
- Beyond repair: in a state that cannot be fixed.
- The old house was beyond repair. (The house was too damaged to be restored.)
Note on Spelling
- "Irrepairable" is a less common variant of "irreparable." Both are correct, but "irreparable" is more frequently used in modern English, especially in formal writing. The spelling "irrepairable" follows the pattern of "repair" (to fix), while "irreparable" comes from Latin "reparabilis."