Unoffsetable

Impossible to be balanced or compensated for by another corresponding item, action, or amount. It describes a situation where a loss, expense, or detriment cannot be diminished or counteracted by an equivalent gain or reduction elsewhere. This typically applies to circumstances involving significant ethical, moral, or irreversible damage that renders any attempt at offset futile. It stresses the absolute nature of the consequence and the absence of potential mitigation or rectification through any compensatory measure.

Unoffsetable meaning with examples

• The emotional trauma inflicted by the cyberbullying was deemed unoffsetable; no amount of apology or restitution could fully erase the psychological scars and pain suffered by the victim. Therapy could only provide some healing.
• The environmental damage from the oil spill was considered unoffsetable, as the destruction of delicate ecosystems and loss of biodiversity was irreversible, no amount of tree planting or conservation efforts would fix the natural damage.
• The loss of life in the war, regardless of military outcomes, was considered unoffsetable, representing an immense human tragedy that no victory could ever truly compensate for, and mourning would continue.
• The reputational damage sustained after the company scandal, despite taking actions like firing key personnel and releasing new ads, was unoffsetable, because consumers' trust was broken, which affected sales.