unredeemable

Upper-Intermediate (B2)

IPA: /ˌʌn.rɪˈdiː.mə.bəl/

KK: /ʌnˈridiməbl/

adjective

Definition

Something that cannot be saved, improved, or corrected.

Example

The situation seemed unredeemable after all the mistakes made.

Conversation

Did you hear about that old car they found in the junkyard?

Yeah, I saw it; it looked pretty unredeemable to me.

I can't believe they thought it was worth fixing up.

Right? Sometimes things just become unredeemable after a while.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

irredeemable

hopeless

incorrigible

Antonyms

redeemable

salvageable

recoverable

Root Explanation

Unredeemable → It is formed from "un-" (meaning not) and "redeem" (from Latin "redimere", meaning to buy back or recover) and "-able" (meaning capable of). The word "unredeemable" means not capable of being bought back or recovered.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' ('un-') being able to 'recover' ('redeem') something — that's why unredeemable means it cannot be recovered.

Visually Confused Words