invulnerable
Americanadjective
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incapable of being wounded, hurt, or damaged.
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proof against or immune to attack.
A strong navy made Great Britain invulnerable.
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not open to denial or disproof.
an invulnerable argument.
adjective
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incapable of being wounded, hurt, damaged, etc, either physically or emotionally
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incapable of being damaged or captured
an invulnerable fortress
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of invulnerable
From the Latin word invulnerābilis, dating back to 1585–95. See in- 3, vulnerable
Explanation
Something that's invulnerable is impossible to damage or injure, like the strongest, most rock solid concrete fort reinforced with steel bars. Or Mother Theresa's reputation. From the Latin invulnerabilis, meaning “not wounding,” came the English invulnerable, an adjective meaning invincible or immune to attack. Some people look to vaccines to make them invulnerable. Others use body armor. Philosopher Henry David Thoreau, on the other hand, relied upon music: “When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable."
Vocabulary lists containing invulnerable
Vigorous Vocab: Synonyms for "Strong"
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Ender's Game
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"Winter Dreams," Vocabulary from the short story
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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.
Invulnerable Corregidor, laced with huge concrete-walled tunnels and bristling with long-range artillery, soon proved vulnerable to concentrated bombardment.
From Time Magazine Archive
He has had many mishaps, any one of which would have permanently disabled a larger animal, and we have dubbed him "Little Invulnerable."
From The Discovery of Yellowstone Park by Langford, Nathaniel Pitt
Invulnerable alike to chaff and to earnest advice, Gunter sat on the fore-hatch smoking, while psalms of praise were rising from the hold.
From The Young Trawler by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)
Invulnerable she might seem now in this cool dining-room on a summer morning, but there had been times when he had doubted.
From Sinister Street, vol. 2 by MacKenzie, Compton
Invulnerable, unassailable Are we, alone perhaps of human kind, Nor life allures us more, nor death alarms.
From Count Julian by Landor, Walter Savage
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.
