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Synonyms

imperceptible

American  
[im-per-sep-tuh-buhl] / ˌɪm pərˈsɛp tə bəl /

adjective

  1. very slight, gradual, or subtle.

    the imperceptible slope of the road.

  2. not perceptible; not perceived by or affecting the senses.

    Synonyms:
    undetectable, unperceivable, hidden

noun

  1. something not capable of being perceived by the senses.

    metaphysical speculation about imperceptibles.
imperceptible British  
/ ˌɪmpəˈsɛptɪbəl /

adjective

  1. too slight, subtle, gradual, etc, to be perceived

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • imperceptibility noun
  • imperceptibleness noun
  • imperceptibly adverb

Etymology

Origin of imperceptible

From the Medieval Latin word imperceptibilis, dating back to 1520–30. See im- 2, perceptible

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.

Since then, an October study published in the journal Frontiers in Sports and Active Living showed just how much could be gained by a nearly imperceptible amount of extra fabric.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

"Traditionally, the intense heat of firing destroys any biological residue. However, our technique has been able to reveal fingerprint ridges that would otherwise remain imperceptible."

From Science Daily • Nov. 2, 2025

The hum of the electric motor is imperceptible, and it is only at speed that the sound of the rolling wheels on the road breaks through.

From BBC • Sep. 3, 2025

The weirdly urgent task lies in asking ourselves whether we have become unwitting accomplices in the imperceptible attempts to make some people unseeable, and why we might be willing to accept that.

From Slate • May 21, 2025

The change was imperceptible, but Clara noticed it.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

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.