irreclaimable

[ ir-i-kley-muh-buhl ]

adjective

1. incapable of being reclaimed or rehabilitated:

   an irreclaimable swamp; irreclaimable offenders.

irreclaimable

/ ˌɪrɪˈkleɪməbəl /

adjective

1. not able to be reclaimed

Derived Forms

• ˌirreˈclaimably, adverb
• ˌirreˌclaimaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• irre·claima·bili·ty irre·claima·ble·ness noun
• irre·claima·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of irreclaimable¹

First recorded in 1600–10; ir- ² + reclaimable ( def )

Example Sentences

He understood that once Cully had slept in freedom for a whole night he would be wild again and irreclaimable.

From Literature

In Claud's mind was a bitter thought which has countless times occurred to most of us, that the past is absolutely irreclaimable.

From Project Gutenberg

Greene was most undoubtedly an irreclaimable vagabond, as well as a most ungrateful person.

From Project Gutenberg

But parent love suffereth long and is kind, hopes against hope, and waits and is still hopeful when every one else has written the offender down irreclaimable.

From Project Gutenberg

SelfÐabandoned, or given up to vice; extremely wicked, or sinning without restraint; irreclaimably wicked ; as, an abandoned villain.

From Project Gutenberg