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

Buckled and impassible roads won’t make it any easier for medical organizations, said Kirsch, who has worked extensively in disaster zones, including in Haiti after it was devastated by a 2010 earthquake.

From Washington Post • Feb. 9, 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

At one point last month, an already shallow portion fell to a depth of 15 inches, making it impassible for cargo ships.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2022

Several feet of mud made roads impassible in the Smithers area along the Fayette-Kanawha county line, the state Division of Highways said.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 16, 2022

Let us bring him myrrh, because we believe that he was mortal in our flesh, who is impassible in his divine nature.

From The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church Containing the Sermones Catholici, or Homilies of ?lfric, in the Original Anglo-Saxon, with an English Version. Volume I. by Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham