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irreclaimably

irreclaimably

9.9
In a way that cannot be brought back or fixed
  • adverb
  • /ˌɪrɪˈkleɪməbli/
translation icon : irrecuperablemente
  • After the flood destroyed the village, many homes were left irreclaimably damaged.
  • irreclaimably gone

Examples

  • The ancient ruins were deemed irreclaimably lost to time and nature.

  • Some species have become irreclaimably extinct due to climate change.

  • "It has been part of the legacy of Darwin to make us wonder what claims we can make for ourselves in the light of what has irreclaimably gone.

    Academic text (1999)
  • If we go with the coral, so to speak, we still can't ignore each inch of land "irreclaimably gone."

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

irrevocably
vsirreclaimably
16 7.7

So that something cannot be changed or undone

emphasizes inability to be recovered, reformed, or restored
irretrievably
vsirreclaimably
5 8.1

In a way that cannot be changed back

emphasizes being beyond repair or reform
irrecoverably
vsirreclaimably
1 8.8

In a way that cannot be given back or fixed

focuses on being beyond recovery or possible reform
unrecoverably
vsirreclaimably
7.8

In a way that cannot be fixed or returned to how it was before

has identical meaning but uses a different prefix form

How Recoverable

irreversibly
7 6.4
irreclaimably
9.9

Surface Forms

irreclaimably positive

Morphology

irreclaimably = irreclaimable (semi-transparent) = ir + re + claim + able + ly

This is a standard adverb formation from the adjective 'irreclaimable' with the suffix '-ly'.

Etymology

Irreclaimably breaks into three parts: ir- 'not', re- 'back', and claim 'to say something is yours' or 'to take it'. So irreclaimably means 'not able to be taken back', which is why something described this way cannot be recovered or fixed.