impassible

American  

[im-pas-uh-buhl] / ɪmˈpæs ə bəl /

adjective

1. incapable of suffering pain.

2. incapable of suffering harm.

3. incapable of emotion; impassive.

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impassible British  

/ ɪmˈpæsəbəl /

adjective

1. not susceptible to pain or injury

2. impassive or unmoved

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Other Word Forms

• impassibility noun
• impassibleness noun
• impassibly adverb

Etymology

Origin of impassible

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English word from Late Latin word impassībilis. See im- ², passible

Example Sentences

“Travel is highly discouraged,” weather officials said, warning that mountain roads across the Sierra will be dangerous and potentially impassible: snow-covered, slippery and with possible downed branches from high winds.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2024

So in 1938, the Army Corps built the jetty from Goat Island to McGlinn Island, aiming to prevent sediment from filling Swinomish Channel and making it impassible for boats.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 2, 2023

That said, the Orlando neighborhood of Rio Pinar Estates had become a giant, impassible lake as the mayor briefed the public, and some 200,000 residents were without electricity.

From New York Times • Sep. 29, 2022

Some of the worst damage occurred in small towns, where buildings were leveled and roads rendered impassible by rubble.

From Washington Post • Sep. 6, 2022

The rainy season had now commenced, and the roads were almost impassible, the mud in some places hub deep.

From Campaign of the Fourteenth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers by Terrill, J. Newton