imperceptible
Americanadjective
-
very slight, gradual, or subtle.
the imperceptible slope of the road.
-
not perceptible; not perceived by or affecting the senses.
- Synonyms:
- undetectable, unperceivable, hidden
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of imperceptible
From the Medieval Latin word imperceptibilis, dating back to 1520–30. See im- 2, perceptible
Explanation
If it's imperceptible, it's impossible to perceive with any of the senses. The world might be spinning, but it's imperceptible from your couch. Within the word imperceptible you see the word percept, which means "the object of your perception." Like impossible, the im in imperceptible means it cannot be perceived. Imperceptible is rarely used in the absolute sense of the word — it is usually paired with almost. Horton hears the Who but the tiny sounds of the Whos were almost imperceptible to everyone else.
Vocabulary lists containing imperceptible
The Crucible
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The Old Man and the Sea
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A Wrinkle in Time
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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.
It’s a cruelty that Navarrette plays with aplomb, using slight changes in her facial expressions and almost imperceptible eye movements to convey the differences between the two versions of her character.
From Salon ● Jun. 4, 2026
Beside him, his mother gave a small, almost imperceptible shrug.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
With 10 minutes left on the clock, he is in a state of total immersion, his eyes glued to the flickering screen and a faint, almost imperceptible smile the only hint that victory is close.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 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
Miss Mortimer gave a nearly imperceptible sigh of exasperation, but still she waited.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
