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unrelievable

unrelievable

8.9
Not able to be replaced in a job or duty
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnrɪˈliːvəbl/
translation icon : insustituible
  • Because of her unique skills, she was considered unrelievable in her position at the company.

Examples

  • During the crisis the only surgeon was unrelievable, working non-stop for three days.

  • The guard's post was so remote that he was unrelievable for the entire shift.

  • The burden of leadership can feel unrelievable at times.

  • Some responsibilities are simply unrelievable.

  • The technician was unrelievable during the server outage, as no one else could handle the situation.

  • In her role as the lead architect, she knew she was unrelievable due to her specialized knowledge of the project.

  • His position in the company was unrelievable, as no one else possessed the same expertise to replace him.

Synonyms

unreplaceable
vsunrelievable
6.6

Not able to be made again if lost or damaged

focuses on being held in a duty and not freed to leave
undischargeable
vsunrelievable
  • Formal
9.6

A person who cannot be removed from their job except for very serious reasons

means being kept in a duty and not allowed to hand over tasks
unexpendable
vsunrelievable
7.5

So important and needed that you cannot do without it

describes essential need rather than absolute inability to be swapped out

How Replaceable

replaceable
15 3.3
dispensable
4 6.1
essential
50 2.4
unrelievable
8.9
irreplaceable
32 6.4

Surface Forms

unrelievable positive

Morphology

unrelievable = relievable (semi-transparent) = un + relieve + able

Morphologically regular, but the sense relating to relieving someone from duty or providing a substitute is a specific usage that some learners may not immediately infer.

Etymology

The word unrelievable joins un- 'not' and relieve 'to take someone's place or free them from duty', like when a guard receives relief, so it means a person or post that cannot be replaced or freed.