impenetrable
[ im-pen-i-truh-buhl ]
/ ɪmˈpɛn ɪ trə bəl /
adjective
not penetrable; that cannot be penetrated, pierced, entered, etc.
inaccessible to ideas, influences, etc.
incapable of being understood; inscrutable; unfathomable: an impenetrable mystery.
Physics. possessing impenetrability.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
impeller, impend, impendent, impending, impenetrability, impenetrable, impenitence, impenitent, impennate, imper., imperatival
Origin of impenetrable
SYNONYMS FOR impenetrable
Related formsim·pen·e·tra·ble·ness, nounim·pen·e·tra·bly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for impenetrable
British Dictionary definitions for impenetrable
impenetrable
/ (ɪmˈpɛnɪtrəbəl) /
adjective
incapable of being pierced through or penetratedan impenetrable forest
incapable of being understood; incomprehensibleimpenetrable jargon
incapable of being seen throughimpenetrable gloom
not susceptible to ideas, influence, etcimpenetrable ignorance
physics (of a body) incapable of occupying the same space as another body
Derived Formsimpenetrability, nounimpenetrableness, nounimpenetrably, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for impenetrable
impenetrable
mid-15c., from Middle French impenetrable, from Latin impenetrabilis "that cannot be penetrated," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + penetrabilis "penetrable" (see penetrate). Related: Impenetrably; impenetrability.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper