Synonyms
Examples of irreversible in a Sentence
He suffered an irreversible loss of vision.
The crisis has done irreversible harm to the countries' relations.
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists say a global temperature rise beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above the preindustrial average will have a catastrophic and irreversible impact on the planet, from melting ice sheets to the collapse of ocean currents.
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Reuters, NBC News, 30 Aug. 2024
For the first time in 40 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken emergency action to suspend the use of a pesticide found to cause irreversible damage to fetuses when they're exposed in utero.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 6 Aug. 2024
Studies indicate that crossing that threshold could trigger irreversible changes in major Earth systems: the collapse of the Greenland ice sheet, complete loss of tropical coral reefs, abrupt thawing of some permafrost.
—Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post, 27 July 2024
Although surgery and treatment helped manage the inflammation, the damage was irreversible and triggered the onset of glaucoma, which increases pressure inside the eye, permanently damaging the nerve that links our brain to our eyes and enables us to see.
—Freya Rogers, CNN, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for irreversible 
Reuters, NBC News, 30 Aug. 2024
For the first time in 40 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken emergency action to suspend the use of a pesticide found to cause irreversible damage to fetuses when they're exposed in utero.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 6 Aug. 2024
Studies indicate that crossing that threshold could trigger irreversible changes in major Earth systems: the collapse of the Greenland ice sheet, complete loss of tropical coral reefs, abrupt thawing of some permafrost.
—Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post, 27 July 2024
Although surgery and treatment helped manage the inflammation, the damage was irreversible and triggered the onset of glaucoma, which increases pressure inside the eye, permanently damaging the nerve that links our brain to our eyes and enables us to see.
—Freya Rogers, CNN, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for irreversible
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'irreversible.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Irreversible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irreversible. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
irreversible
adjective
ir·re·vers·ible
ˌir-i-ˈvər-sə-bəl 
: impossible to reverse
an irreversible chemical reaction
irreversible damage
Medical Definition
irreversible
adjective
ir·re·vers·ible
ˌir-i-ˈvər-sə-bəl
: incapable of being reversed : not reversible
an irreversible medical procedure
: as
a
: impossible to make run or take place backward
irreversible chemical syntheses
b
of a colloid
: incapable of undergoing transformation from sol to gel or vice versa
c
of a pathological process
: of such severity that recovery is impossible
irreversible brain damage
Legal Definition
irreversible
adjective
ir·re·ver·si·ble
ˌir-rə-ˈvər-sə-bəl
: not reversible
an irreversible decision
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