[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/incurable/)

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# incurable

adjective (incurable; incurably adv.)

«incurable» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. An incurable illness cannot be cured: doctors cannot make it go away, though they may help the person feel better. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incurable/#m1)
2. An incurable habit or quality is so strong that it will never change: an incurable optimist always hopes for the best. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incurable/#m2)

### In the lessons

In health and science lessons and in family life: «an incurable disease», «sadly, the illness is incurable». Used kindly and humorously about character: «an incurable chatterbox», «an incurable romantic». It tells the reader something cannot be fixed or changed.

### Examples

- The vet said the old dog's illness was incurable. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incurable/#x1)
- Grandad has an incurable disease, but medicine helps him feel comfortable. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incurable/#x2)
- My sister is an incurable chatterbox. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incurable/#x3)
- Scientists are working hard to find treatments for incurable illnesses. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incurable/#x4)
- Dad is an incurable optimist about the weather. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incurable/#x5)
- Some illnesses that were once incurable can now be cured. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incurable/#x6)
- She was incurably curious about everything. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incurable/#x7)
- Meanwhile, the wound of Telephus proving incurable, he consulted an oracle, and the response was, that he alone who had inflicted the wound possessed the power of curing it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incurable/#x8)

### Note

in- + cure + -able = cannot be cured. «Incurable» does not always mean deadly: many incurable conditions, like some allergies, can be managed for life. Opposite: curable.

## In Jewish tradition

It describes wounds and diseases that no one can heal, as in Jeremiah's picture of Israel's hurt.

**Interpretation.** Jeremiah's words are followed by God's promise to heal, so tradition reads even incurable pain as something God may still restore.

### Examples

- Why criest thou for thy hurt, that thy pain is incurable? (Prophets JER.30.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/incurable/#x1)
- For thus saith the LORD: Thy hurt is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. (Prophets JER.30.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/incurable/#x2)
- And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. (Writings 2CH.21.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/incurable/#x3)

### Note

in- + cure + -able = cannot be cured. «Incurable» does not always mean deadly: many incurable conditions, like some allergies, can be managed for life. Opposite: curable.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «incurable» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incurable/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«incurable» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/incurable.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «incurable» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/incurable/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«incurable» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/incurable.html) on Mova free.