indestructible
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of indestructible
From the Late Latin word indēstrūctibilis, dating back to 1665–75. See in- 3, destructible
Explanation
Something that's indestructible can't be broken or destroyed. Your indestructible winter boots last year after year, stomping through snow and ice and salt without ever falling apart. Things that are indestructible last for so long that it seems impossible to break them. Your relationship with your best friend might feel indestructible if your bond is strong and true, and your junky old car might also seem indestructible if it never dies no matter how many miles you drive it. The word indestructible comes from Latin roots, the prefix in, or "not," and destruere, "tear down or demolish" or literally "un-build."
Vocabulary lists containing indestructible
Superhero Lexicon
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Wonder Woman's Superpower Words
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World Without Fish
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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.
Panettiere’s star rose exponentially, however, in 2006 when she debuted as indestructible Texas cheerleader Claire Bennet in “Heroes,” which quickly became a massive hit for its network NBC.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
She didn’t realize, at the time, that porcelain, which is fired at well over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit in the kiln, is nearly indestructible to heat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
The Daily Star splashes on the invasion of "indestructible" Argentine ants that are threatening British wildlife and crops.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
But although it’s worn and weathered, the tie that binds these two is indestructible.
From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2026
The Cataclyst had destroyed everything in the sector that could be destroyed, but artifacts were indestructible.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
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.
