1
as in hopeless
not capable of being cured or reformed
an irretrievable drug addict who had wasted a once-promising life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in irreparable
not capable of being repaired, regained, or undone
this is just an irretrievable mess, so let's start all over again
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 irretrievable
Lawmakers warn that evidence critical to future war crimes investigations may be irretrievable.
—
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
And there was data that was lost, that was irretrievable.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 2 Jan. 2025
Once deleted, users can also manually empty the trash folder, making those files and communications irretrievable and truly deleted from the online platform.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
Going into Comic-Con, Marvel really did need to reaffirm its swagger, to prove 2023 was a momentary ebb rather than the start of an irretrievable decline.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 28 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for irretrievable
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
And there was data that was lost, that was irretrievable.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 2 Jan. 2025
Once deleted, users can also manually empty the trash folder, making those files and communications irretrievable and truly deleted from the online platform.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
Going into Comic-Con, Marvel really did need to reaffirm its swagger, to prove 2023 was a momentary ebb rather than the start of an irretrievable decline.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 28 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for irretrievable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irretrievable
Adjective
-
Those nurses never stopped fighting for Mattie, even as her situation seemed hopeless.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
10 May 2025
-
While critical gaps in testing still remain, innovation has ignited a diagnostic boom that has transformed the AIDS fight from hopeless to winnable.—
Jennifer Lotito,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The court’s opinion did not address the merits of the argument, but only found that the lower district court erred by giving an injunction when there was no evidence of irreparable harm to the union.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
17 May 2025
-
Privately, Atleti were furious, with executives insisting Arsenal’s actions had done irreparable damage to the relationship between the clubs.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
In 1952, she was diagnosed with an illness doctors said was incurable.—
Sonari Glinton,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
-
Two years ago, Emma Dimery was told her stage 4 colon cancer was incurable.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2025
Adjective
-
His cause of death was listed as a stroke followed by irreversible cardiac arrest.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2025
-
Without recurring care, many patients will experience harmful setbacks that could lead to hospitalization and irreversible damage that reduces their quality of life and life expectancy.—
Dan Mccarty,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2025
Adjective
-
Customs Duty, which is irrecoverable. Import VAT, which can be reclaimed, provided correct steps are taken.—
Robert Marchant,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
-
The contents of the time capsule may become irrecoverable.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Then, use secure data-erasing software to completely wipe your PC, ensuring your personal information is unrecoverable.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2025
-
Inducing opposite-phase steering above 30 or 40 mph could cause drastic instability at speed, creating a very rapid yaw moment that would likely cause an unrecoverable skid.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2025
Adjective
-
Despite the incident, The Animal Haven reaffirmed its no-kill shelter status, and clarified that euthanasia in cases of irremediable canine aggression is in line with the Best Friends Animal Society's definition of no-kill.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Despite the incident, The Animal Haven reaffirmed its no-kill shelter status, and clarified that euthanasia in cases of irremediable canine aggression is in line with the Best Friends Animal Society's definition of no-kill.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
They were joined by dozens of other performers across the rock ’n’ roll spectrum, from the hard-stomping Fleshtones to the incorrigible Supersuckers, to Tommy Stinson’s Bash & Pop, to the ageless Linda Gail Lewis — younger sister of music icon Jerry Lee Lewis.—
Jim Ruland,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2025
-
Critics attack it the same way: the recent success of a provincial right-wing party led many to view Austria as a land of incorrigible neofascists, for which it was sanctioned by the EU.—
Paul Lendvai,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Mar. 2011
Cite this Entry
“Irretrievable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irretrievable. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share