indestructible
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of indestructible
From the Late Latin word indēstrūctibilis, dating back to 1665–75. See in- 3, destructible
Explanation
Something that's indestructible can't be broken or destroyed. Your indestructible winter boots last year after year, stomping through snow and ice and salt without ever falling apart. Things that are indestructible last for so long that it seems impossible to break them. Your relationship with your best friend might feel indestructible if your bond is strong and true, and your junky old car might also seem indestructible if it never dies no matter how many miles you drive it. The word indestructible comes from Latin roots, the prefix in, or "not," and destruere, "tear down or demolish" or literally "un-build."
Vocabulary lists containing indestructible
Superhero Lexicon
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World Without Fish
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hayden Panettiere, the former child actor who became a household name as an indestructible cheerleader on “Heroes” before starring as a troubled country singer on “Nashville,” has died.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
She didn’t realize, at the time, that porcelain, which is fired at well over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit in the kiln, is nearly indestructible to heat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Once indestructible, the greatest basketball player of his generation—a talent America has known since he was in high school—was suddenly sitting out games with ailments like sciatica and arthritis.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026
"I always thought Ian was indestructible," she added.
From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2026
He felt carved from something beautiful and indestructible.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
