unring
Take back toll
To unring something is to undo the ringing of it—but the word appears almost exclusively in the expression you can't unring a bell, meaning some actions cannot be reversed.
Once words are spoken or deeds done, their effects persist regardless of regret or retraction.
The phrase is common in legal contexts where inadmissible evidence has already reached the jury.
Cannot be undone
- permanentFixed without end
- indelibleImpossible to remove
- unchangeableImpossible to modify
- immutableIncapable of being changed
unretractable · done · final · settled · fixed · inevitable · fated · unchanging
Complete change of direction
- annulmentDeclared void from start
- nullificationFormal cancellation of validity
- cancellationVoiding of plans
- revocationOfficial cancellation of privilege
negation · counteraction · invalidation · rescission · overturning · repeal · abrogation · withdrawal
irreversible
Cannot be undone
- permanentFixed without end
- indelibleImpossible to remove
- unchangeableImpossible to modify
immutable · unretractable · done · final · settled · fixed · inevitable · fated · unchanging · lasting
reversal
Complete change of direction
- annulmentDeclared void from start
- nullificationFormal cancellation of validity
- cancellationVoiding of plans
revocation · negation · counteraction · invalidation · rescission · overturning · repeal · abrogation · withdrawal · retraction
chime
Melodic bell sound
clang · resonance · reverberation · echo · sound · alarm · signal · warning · announcement · summons