insuperable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of insuperable
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English word from Latin word insuperābilis. See in- 3, superable
Explanation
Perhaps if you are a superhero, you can tackle an insuperable problem — one that is considered impossible to overcome. Insuperable is an adjective that is often paired with nouns like difficulty, obstacle, and barrier. An insuperable difficulty is not just difficult; it’s impossible. And an insuperable obstacle is not like a hurdle on a running track that slows you down a little; it stops you entirely. The opposite of insuperable is, of course, superable, though it’s less commonly used than its negative counterpart.
Vocabulary lists containing insuperable
Frankenstein
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 Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe
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!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "I"
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.
Here and elsewhere, scale is a messaging device, speaking of the Roman imperium’s insuperable need to seize and control large swaths of space.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2025
That the songs don’t match the story structurally is probably an insuperable problem.
From New York Times ● Jul. 27, 2023
Two women who are attached to their cultural roots yet alienated by the conservative values of their communities hold for each other the answer to problems that until now have seemed insuperable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2023
That assured at least a halving of the match with Viktor Hovland — the halving did come — and pushed the United States to an insuperable 14½ points.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 26, 2021
The old silver there was of some value, she told the lawyer, but it represented an almost insuperable difficulty for Luke: it required energy to steal it and transform it into money.
From "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson
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.
