irredeemable
ih-rih-DEE-muh-buhl
/ˌɪr.ɪˈdiː.mə.bəl/
Not able to be saved, improved, corrected, or restored.
Describes something corrupted or damaged beyond any possibility of recovery or salvation.
The story behind the word. Formed by combining 'in-' (not), 're-' (back), and 'emere' (to buy), irredeemable literally means 'that which cannot be bought back'. It describes something or someone so thoroughly lost or corrupted that restoration is impossible.
Word relationships
- hopeless: Hopeless refers to lack of promise, while irredeemable highlights that no rescue or restoration can ever happen.
- incorrigible: Incorrigible specifically describes bad habits or people that cannot be corrected or reformed.
- redeemable: Redeemable means capable of being saved, restored, or offset by good qualities.
- salvageable: Salvageable means able to be saved from ruin.
Commonly confused with
- bleak: Bleak describes a cold and hopeless situation; irredeemable describes something ruined past the possibility of fixing.
Word family
- irredeemably (adverb): In a manner that cannot be saved or corrected.
- redemption (noun): The action of saving or being saved from error or evil.
Collocations
- irredeemable villain
- irredeemable loss
- irredeemable corrupt
- irredeemable flaw
Idioms & expressions
- beyond saving
- past the point of no return
Example sentences
- "The critic described the villain not as a nuanced antihero, but as an irredeemable monster devoid of virtue." Literary Criticism
- "The company's debts reached such astronomical heights that experts considered its financial situation irredeemable." Financial Analysis
Memory hook
IR-REDEEMABLE = Cannot be REDEEMED (bought back or saved) no matter what. Cannot be bought back.
When not to use
Do not use for minor mistakes that can easily be fixed; save it for complete, absolute ruin.
Fun facts
- In economics, 'irredeemable paper money' refers to banknotes that cannot be exchanged for gold or silver on demand.
Explore more words
incorrigible, irrevocable, incorruptible, inoperable, inconsolable, Irreversible
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