irreversible Definition
- 1not able to be undone or altered
- 2impossible to reverse
Using irreversible: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "irreversible" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The damage to the environment is irreversible.
Example
The decision was irreversible and could not be changed.
Example
The effects of the disease are often irreversible.
Example
The company suffered an irreversible loss due to the pandemic.
irreversible Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for irreversible
- irreparable
- permanent
- unalterable
- final
- unchangeable
Antonyms for irreversible
Phrases with irreversible
a process that cannot be reversed, such as the expansion of a gas into a vacuum
Example
The second law of thermodynamics states that all natural processes are irreversible.
a type of enzyme inhibitor that binds permanently to the enzyme, rendering it inactive
Example
Some drugs act as irreversible inhibitors of enzymes, preventing them from functioning properly.
a state of unconsciousness from which a person cannot be awakened and which is not reversible
Example
The patient had been in an irreversible coma for several weeks before passing away.
Summary: irreversible in Brief
The term 'irreversible' [ɪˈrɛvərsəbl] refers to something that cannot be undone or altered, such as damage to the environment or the effects of a disease. It can also describe a decision that cannot be changed, as in 'The decision was irreversible and could not be changed.' 'Irreversible' extends into phrases like 'irreversible process,' denoting a process that cannot be reversed, and 'irreversible coma,' referring to a state of unconsciousness from which a person cannot be awakened.
