insurmountable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of insurmountable
First recorded in 1690–1700; in- 3 + surmountable ( def. )
Explanation
The adjective insurmountable describes some barrier that is incapable of being overcome. The Great Wall of China was meant to be an insurmountable deterrent to would-be invaders. Although the adjective insurmountable can be used to describe an actual physical barrier, it most often refers to a less tangible challenge. "The runner was disheartened because her competitor had an insurmountable lead in the race." "Because of insurmountable difficulties, the school's fall party had to be canceled. The water heater burst, raining gallons of water down on the gym, and flooding it. Since it was not a swimming party, the school wasn't able to clean up the mess in time to host the party."
Vocabulary lists containing insurmountable
Power Suffix: -able
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The Awakening
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Be More Chill
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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.
Much like a high-stakes competition, caregiving forces us to confront the insurmountable daily.
From Salon • Jun. 15, 2026
Macron has repeatedly said that Europe must not let the United States and China take an insurmountable lead in AI.
From Barron's • May 30, 2026
These requirements are more than rigorous; they are nearly insurmountable.
From Slate • May 29, 2026
The New York Knicks lead the Eastern Conference Finals 3-0, a historically insurmountable advantage in the NBA.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
The Court justified this insurmountable hurdle on the grounds that considerable deference is owed the exercise of prosecutorial discretion.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
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.
