untreatable

adjective

un·​treat·​able ˌən-ˈtrē-tə-bəl How to pronounce untreatable (audio)
: not yielding or responsive to medical treatment : not treatable
an untreatable disease
These infections cause an untreatable degeneration of the nervous system …Jared Diamond
The location of the cancer rendered him untreatable by further surgery.Nancy J. Kubel
untreatably adverb

Examples of untreatable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As research continues to evolve, integrating these technologies into routine prenatal and neonatal care promises to redefine pediatric healthcare, offering hope for conditions once deemed untreatable. William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 This previously untreatable genetic disorder, which affects some 2–3 of every 10 million newborns, leads to profound visual impairments and legal blindness. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025 Her great-grandmom’s sudden death due to the then untreatable disease tuberculosis caused all those hardships. Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 The new pet comes just a few months after Queen Camilla's rescue dog Beth died, being put down due to having an untreatable tumor. Stephanie Petit, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for untreatable

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of untreatable was in 1865

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Cite this Entry

“Untreatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/untreatable. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

untreatable

adjective
un·​treat·​able -ˈtrēt-ə-bəl How to pronounce untreatable (audio)
: not susceptible to medical treatment
untreatable patients
an untreatable disease
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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