incorrigible

C2 Topic:Register & Style

US /ɪnˈkɔɹɪd͡ʒəb(ə)l/ UK /ɪnˈkɒɹɪdʒəb(ə)l/ See IPA manual

Freq #24480

Meanings

1

adj
Defective and impossible to materially correct or set aright.

The construction flaw is incorrigible; any attempt to amend it would cause a complete collapse.
2

adj
Unmanageable; impervious to correction by punishment or pain.

An incorrigible youth.
3

adj
Incurably depraved; not reformable.

His dark soul was too incorrigible to repent, even at his execution.
4

adj
Unchangeably established in a belief or habit.

Gordon Brown may have his grumpy, Granita moments, but as a strategist he is an incorrigible optimist.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · defective and impossible to... irreparableuncorrectable

3 adj · incurably depraved; not... irredeemable reprobateunreformable

4 adj · unchangeably established in... determineddyed-in-the-woolhopeless incurable unalterable

More axiomaticunfalsifiable

Opposites

correctablecorrigible

Word family

Forms incorrigibles

Derived forms incorrigibilityincorrigiblenessincorrigibly

Related forms incorrect

Etymology

From Middle English incorrigible, from Middle French incorrigible (1334), or directly from Latin incorrigibilis (“not to be corrected”), from in- (“not”) + corrigere (“to correct”) + -ibilis (“-able”), equivalent to in- + corrigible. Recorded since 1340.

Topics

Register & Style

External links

# incorrigible

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈkɔɹɪd͡ʒəb(ə)l/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈkɒɹɪdʒəb(ə)l/
**Frequency rank:** 24480

## Meanings
1. Defective and impossible to materially correct or set aright.
2. Unmanageable; impervious to correction by punishment or pain.
3. Incurably depraved; not reformable.
4. Unchangeably established in a belief or habit.

## Examples
- The construction flaw is incorrigible; any attempt to amend it would cause a complete collapse.
- An incorrigible youth.
- His dark soul was too incorrigible to repent, even at his execution.
- Gordon Brown may have his grumpy, Granita moments, but as a strategist he is an incorrigible optimist.

## Synonyms
- axiomatic
- incurable
- unfalsifiable
- irreparable
- uncorrectable
- irredeemable
- reprobate
- unreformable
- determined
- dyed-in-the-wool
- hopeless
- unalterable

## Antonyms
- correctable
- corrigible

## Derived Forms
- incorrigibility
- incorrigibleness
- incorrigibly

## Related Forms
- incorrect

## Etymology
From Middle English incorrigible, from Middle French incorrigible (1334), or directly from Latin incorrigibilis (“not to be corrected”), from in- (“not”) + corrigere (“to correct”) + -ibilis (“-able”), equivalent to in- + corrigible. Recorded since 1340.

## Topics
- Register & Style

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