incurable
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incurable
Describes an illness or condition that cannot be cured according to the current state of medicine.
Leider wurde bei ihm eine unheilbare Krankheit diagnostiziert.
Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with an incurable disease.
incorrigible
Used figuratively for a negative trait or bad condition that is so deeply rooted that it is considered no longer changeable or improvable.
Er ist ein unheilbarer Optimist, selbst in den schlimmsten Situationen.
He is an incorrigible optimist, even in the worst situations.
The word is made up of the negation 'un-' and the adjective 'heilbar' (curable). Since 'heilbar' comes from the verb 'heilen' (to heal/cure), 'unheilbar' literally means 'not curable'.
Die Forschung sucht nach Wegen, bisher unheilbare Krankheiten zu behandeln.
Research is looking for ways to treat diseases that have so far been incurable.
In a medical context, 'unheilbar' (incurable) usually stands directly before the word 'Krankheit' (disease) or is used as an adverb with 'krank' (ill). You have an 'unheilbare Krankheit' (incurable disease) or are 'unheilbar krank' (incurably ill).
Er wurde mit der Diagnose konfrontiert, unheilbar krank zu sein.
He was confronted with the diagnosis that he was incurably ill.
In the figurative meaning, 'unheilbar' (incorrigible) describes a fixed character trait. Interestingly, it is often used ironically or affectionately for non-negative traits, for example 'ein unheilbarer Romantiker' (an incurable romantic).
Mein Bruder ist ein unheilbarer Fußballfan; er verpasst kein einziges Spiel.
My brother is an incurable football fan; he doesn't miss a single game.
