Definition

Adjective: 1. Not redeemed or saved: Describes something that has not been bought back, reclaimed, saved from a negative state, or fulfilled. 2. Subject to eternal damnation: In a theological context, describes souls that are not saved from sin and are condemned to punishment.

Usage and Examples

• General/Literal Usage (Not reclaimed):
  • The pawn ticket expired, leaving the jewelry unredeemed. (The jewelry was not bought back from the pawnshop.)
  • The company had many unredeemed gift certificates on its books. (The gift certificates had not been used or exchanged for goods.)
• Theological/Figurative Usage (Not saved):
  • The preacher spoke of the fate of unredeemed sinners. (He spoke of sinners who were not saved from damnation.)
  • She felt unredeemed by her past good deeds, still burdened by guilt. (She felt her past actions did not save her from feeling guilty.)

Advanced Usage

• "unredeemed pledge": A pledged item that was not bought back.
  • The unredeemed pledge was sold at auction.
• "unredeemed promise": A promise that was not fulfilled or carried out.
  • His unredeemed promise to help damaged their trust.

Variants and Related Words

• Redeem (verb): To buy back, to save from sin or a negative state, to fulfill a promise.
  • He sought to redeem his mistake with an apology.
• Redeemed (adjective): Saved, reclaimed, or fulfilled. (The direct opposite of 'unredeemed').
  • A redeemed coupon. / A redeemed soul.
• Redemption (noun): The act of redeeming or the state of being redeemed.
  • The redemption of the loan was due in full.

Synonyms

• Unfulfilled: Not carried out or completed (for promises, obligations).
• Forfeited: Lost or surrendered as a penalty (for pledges, securities).
• Unclaimed: Not retrieved or collected.
• Damned: Condemned to eternal punishment (theological).

Antonyms

• Redeemed: Bought back, saved, fulfilled.
• Claimed: Retrieved or collected.
• Fulfilled: Carried out or completed.
• Saved: Rescued from sin or danger.

Notes on Meaning

The core meaning of 'unredeemed' involves a failure to recover, save, or fulfill. Its application ranges from concrete commercial contexts (unredeemed coupons, pawned items) to abstract spiritual or moral ones (unredeemed souls, promises). The theological sense of being eternally lost or damned is a strong figurative extension of the basic meaning.

Adjective

1. in danger of the eternal punishment of Hell
   • poor damned souls