unredeemable
Adjective 1. Incapable of being saved, corrected, or improved: Describes something or someone that is beyond redemption, reformation, or recovery. It implies a state so flawed, corrupt, or lost that it cannot be restored to a good or acceptable condition. 2. Not convertible into cash or a specified form: In a financial context, it can describe something (like a voucher or bond) that cannot be exchanged for money or its stated value.
The word "unredeemable" is a formal adjective used to describe a permanent, hopeless state. It is often applied to people, actions, or situations considered beyond moral or practical salvation.
Describing a person's character:
- The judge declared the criminal to be unredeemable and sentenced him to life in prison.
- After years of failed interventions, the counselors sadly concluded the youth was unredeemable.
Describing a situation or quality:
- The damage to the company's reputation was unredeemable after the scandal.
- He made an unredeemable error that cost the team the championship.
Financial context (less common):
- The coupon is unredeemable after the expiration date.
- These points are unredeemable for cash.
"unredeemable debt": Debt that cannot be repaid or recovered.
- The bank was forced to write off the unredeemable debt.
"unredeemable promise": A promise that is impossible to fulfill or has been completely broken.
- His failure to appear made his vow an unredeemable promise.
Irredeemable: A more common synonym with identical meaning. "Irredeemable" is often preferred in modern usage.
- The villain was portrayed as utterly irredeemable.
Unredeemed (adj.): Not having been redeemed or saved. This describes a state, not an inherent quality.
- The unredeemed gift card sat in the drawer for years.
Redeemable (adj.): The direct opposite, meaning capable of being saved, corrected, or exchanged.
- Fortunately, his mistakes were redeemable with an apology.
- Irreclaimable: Incapable of being reclaimed or reformed.
- Irremediable: Impossible to remedy or correct.
- Hopeless: Having no hope or chance of improvement or success.
- Lost: Beyond recovery or salvation.
- Redeemable
- Reformable
- Salvageable
- Recoverable
The primary and most powerful meaning of "unredeemable" is moral or personal, describing a state beyond correction or salvation. The financial meaning is secondary and more literal. When used, the context usually makes the intended meaning clear.
- insusceptible of reform
- vicious irreclaimable boys
- irredeemable sinners