irreproachable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- irreproachability noun
- irreproachableness noun
- irreproachably adverb
Etymology
Origin of irreproachable
First recorded in 1625–35; ir- 2 + reproachable ( def. )
Explanation
Use the adjective irreproachable to describe something or someone blameless or not deserving of criticism. It can be annoying, but your parents strive to give you irreproachable advice when they tell you, "Study hard in school," and not "Party on!" The adjective irreproachable comes from the Old French word reprocher, which meant "to blame." With the addition of the prefix ir-, meaning "not," and the suffix -able, meaning "capable," we get the English meaning of "not capable of being blamed." It is the rare politician who has an irreproachable reputation. So if your background is not irreproachable and you run for office, be prepared for the press to dig up all the skeletons in your closet.
Vocabulary lists containing irreproachable
Educated
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"The Minister's Black Veil" by Nathaniel Hawthorne
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"The Censors," Vocabulary from the short story
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A former New Dealer, an academic, an internationalist, he was the type who offended Cohn, but he was almost comically irreproachable.
From Salon • Mar. 5, 2023
“He will remain in the memories of the supporters as someone with an irreproachable attitude, who has defended our colors with faultless commitment.”
From Seattle Times • May 21, 2022
“We have no precedent for a colleague with such a brilliant, irreproachable track record, who has waged such a head-on fight against organized crime, to have been a victim,” Sapriza said.
From Washington Post • May 11, 2022
He found their honesty and the grittiness irreproachable.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2021
“The conduct of neither, if strictly examined, will be irreproachable; but since then, we have both, I hope, improved in civility.”
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
