irretrievable
Gone beyond recall
Irretrievable describes something that cannot be recovered or restored to its former state.
An irretrievable loss is permanent—gone beyond any hope of getting back: The data was irretrievable after the crash.
In legal contexts, an irretrievable breakdown of marriage means the relationship is beyond repair.
The word emphasizes finality: once something is irretrievable, no effort will undo it.
Impossible to regain
- irrecoverableImpossible to regain
- goneNo longer present
- vanishedDisappeared from sight
- lostUnable to navigate
missing · disappeared · erased · obliterated · extinct · forgotten · departed · perished
Cannot be undone
- irrevocableCannot be undone
- irreparableCannot be fixed
- finalLast and decisive
- permanentFixed without end
unalterable · unchangeable · immutable · terminal · incurable · inoperable · end-stage · conclusive
Irrecoverable past expenditures
- bygonesFormer offenses dismissed
- forfeitedLost through violation
- squanderedCarelessly used up
- wastedUsed without good result
spent · depleted · exhausted · written off · depreciated · liquidated · bankrupt · defaulted
Cannot be accessed
- unattainableImpossible to acquire
- inaccessibleCannot be reached
- unobtainableImpossible to acquire
- beyond reachUnable to obtain
out of reach · untouchable · elusive · impenetrable · ungraspable · unfindable · barred · forbidden
Beyond possibility of success
- despairTotal absence of hope
- lossBeing without something
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- regretSorrow over past actions
mourning · heartbreak · resignation · finality · letting go · acceptance · closure · farewell
unrecoverable
Impossible to regain
- irrecoverableImpossible to regain
- goneNo longer present
- vanishedDisappeared from sight
lost · missing · disappeared · erased · obliterated · extinct · forgotten · departed · perished · annihilated
irreversible
Cannot be undone
- irrevocableCannot be undone
- irreparableCannot be fixed
- finalLast and decisive
permanent · unalterable · unchangeable · immutable · terminal · incurable · inoperable · end-stage · conclusive · decisive
sunk costs
Irrecoverable past expenditures
- bygonesFormer offenses dismissed
- forfeitedLost through violation
- squanderedCarelessly used up
wasted · spent · depleted · exhausted · written off · depreciated · liquidated · bankrupt · defaulted · unrecouped
unreachable
Cannot be accessed
- unattainableImpossible to acquire
- inaccessibleCannot be reached
- unobtainableImpossible to acquire
beyond reach · out of reach · untouchable · elusive · impenetrable · ungraspable · unfindable · barred · forbidden · off-limits
hopeless
Beyond possibility of success
regret · mourning · heartbreak · resignation · finality · letting go · acceptance · closure · farewell · parting
irretrievableretrievable
Able to be gotten back
recoverable · reclaimable · salvageable · salvable · savable
irretrievablereversible
Able to be undone
reparable · repairable · fixable · remediable · rectifiable
irretrievablereversible
Able to be undone
redeemable · undoable · reformable · restorable · revocable