incurable
ihn-KYOOR-ruhbl
Incurable (adj) means not able to be cured or treated successfully. Example: “The disease was declared incurable at the time.”
adj
1
Not able to be cured or treated successfully.
"The disease was declared incurable at the time."
2
So deeply ingrained that it cannot be changed or fixed.
"He's an incurable romantic, always believing in love at first sight."
How to use incurable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishImpossible to cure or fix — used both literally for illness and lightly for personality traits.
Common pairings
incurable disease
incurable romantic
incurable optimist
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Word forms
- Plural
- incurables
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The disease was declared _____ at the time.
Etymology
From Old French incurable, from Late Latin incurabilis, from in- ("not") plus curare ("to cure, take care of").
Synonyms
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uncurable
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for incurable
See all rhymes for incurable →Frequently asked questions
What does “incurable” mean?
The word “incurable” means not able to be cured or treated successfully. In plain terms, impossible to cure or fix — used both literally for illness and lightly for personality traits.
How do you pronounce “incurable”?
“Incurable” is pronounced ihn-KYOOR-ruhbl (/ˌɪnˈkjʊɹəbl/ in IPA).
How do you use “incurable” in a sentence?
Here is “incurable” used in a sentence: “The disease was declared incurable at the time.”
What is another word for “incurable”?
Words with a similar meaning to “incurable” include uncurable.
What is the opposite of “incurable”?
The opposite of “incurable” — its antonyms — is curable.
What part of speech is “incurable”?
“Incurable” is an adjective.
Where does the word “incurable” come from?
The word “incurable” comes from Late Latin. From Old French incurable, from Late Latin incurabilis, from in- ("not") plus curare ("to cure, take care of").
How many meanings does “incurable” have?
“Incurable” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not able to be cured or treated successfully.
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