Usage
What’s the difference between unrepairable and irreparable? Unrepairable and irreparable both mean just about the same thing: unable to be repaired or fixed.They can be used in overlapping ways, but they are usually used in different contexts and situations.Irreparable is the more commonly used word. It can be applied to objects, such as machines or appliances, that can’t be repaired, but it’s perhaps most commonly used in the context of intangible things like circumstances and relationships. It’s especially used with the word damage, as in I’m afraid I’ve done irreparable damage to my reputation or The iceberg caused irreparable damage to the ship’s hull.On the other hand, unrepairable is typically reserved for physical objects that can’t be fixed, such as cars, tables, or computers, as in I hate that a lot of appliances are manufactured in a way that makes them unrepairable. Still, unrepairable can also be applied to intangible things in the same way that irreparable usually is.Here’s an example of unrepairable and irreparable used correctly in a sentence.Example of irreparable: Sources close to the team say that the relationship between the coaches and the players is irreparable at this point.Example of unrepairable: I’m really hoping my mechanic doesn’t tell me my car is unrepairable—I really don’t want to buy a new one. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between unrepairable and irreparable.
Etymology
Origin of unrepairable
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.
About 50,000 apartments in more than 400 buildings are now unrepairable.
From New York Times • Jul. 19, 2022
The group expressed "unrepairable grief" at Shvets’ death.
From Fox News • Mar. 17, 2022
As she tried to exit the track, she hit a pole on a fence causing a wound and an unrepairable shoulder injury.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2021
County staff determined that they are essentially unrepairable and need to start over.
From Washington Times • Oct. 21, 2020
He won't be crippled, or anything like that, but there was considerable unrepairable damage to his back muscles.
From Four-Day Planet by Piper, H. Beam
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.
