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incurably

B1
adverb

Pronunciation

UK

  • /ɪnkjˈɔːrəbli/

US

  • /ɪŋkjˈʊrəbli/

Description

If someone has an incurably optimistic outlook, it means they stay cheerful no matter what happens. The word comes from the idea of an illness that cannot be cured. But it is not used only for health. Someone can be incurably romantic, incurably curious, or incurably shy. In these cases, it means the quality feels deep, lasting, and very hard to change. It often describes something that seems like a permanent part of a person's nature, for better or for worse.

Examples

  1. 1

    Medical condition

    By the time the disease was diagnosed, she was incurably ill.

  2. 2

    Optimistic personality

    Even after two failed startups, he remained incurably optimistic.

    • Pattern

      incurably + adjective

      the quality seems impossible to change

  3. 3

    Curiosity

    My brother is incurably curious and always wants to know how things work.

  4. 4

    Personal habits

    She is incurably untidy, no matter how often she promises to clean up.

  5. 5

    Romantic character

    The novel’s main character is an incurably romantic man who keeps believing in perfect love.

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • incurablyadverb