imponderable
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of imponderable
From the Medieval Latin word imponderābilis, dating back to 1785–95. See im- 2, ponderable
Explanation
Imponderable describes a situation that isn't able to be completely explained. "What is the meaning of life?" is one of those imponderable questions that defies humans' ability for understanding If something is ponderable, it is capable of being assessed or weighed; stick im- in front and you get the opposite effect. Use imponderable to describe something that is elusive and vague, perhaps even evasive. When your question doesn't have a definitive answer, you are in imponderable territory: "Life has many imponderable questions, such as why you park in a driveway and drive on parkway."
Vocabulary lists containing imponderable
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Road
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Harry Truman's Inauguration Address
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
And looming over it all, Japan’s national debt, generally figured at around 230% of GDP, remains the world economy’s greatest imponderable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
The reason is a mix of exaggerated ambition and imponderable events.
From BBC ● Jan. 4, 2023
Can’t do anything about the sheer messiness of being an object of desire or, to quote the man himself, “the imponderable of being a human being.”
From Washington Post ● Oct. 16, 2022
The political environment is also an imponderable factor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 23, 2022
Something imponderable shifting out there in the dark.
From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
