impassable

American  

[im-pas-uh-buhl, -pah-suh-] / ɪmˈpæs ə bəl, -ˈpɑ sə- /

adjective

1. not passable; not allowing passage over, through, along, etc..

   Heavy snow made the roads impassable.

2. unable to be surmounted.

   an impassable obstacle to further negotiations.

3. (of currency) unable to be circulated.

   He tore the bill in half, making it impassable.

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impassable British  

/ ɪmˈpɑːsəbəl /

adjective

1. (of terrain, roads, etc) not able to be travelled through or over

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Other Word Forms

• impassability noun
• impassableness noun
• impassably adverb

Etymology

Origin of impassable

First recorded in 1560–70; im- ² + passable

Example Sentences

Aid workers have been trying to reach people on foot and by motorcycle, as many roads are impassable to larger vehicles.

From BBC

The government has sent three warships carrying aid and two hospital ships to some of the worst-hit areas, where many roads remain impassable.

From Barron's

Multiple highways remained impassable Saturday and 300,000 people were without power, after a blackout that initially affected more than a million, the environment ministry added.

From Barron's

The snow could make some higher routes impassable and there could be some disruption to rail journeys.

From BBC

Now that it is arriving in the country, landslides, downed power lines and fallen trees have made certain roads impassable - complicating its distribution.

From BBC

Related Words

• impenetrable
• insurmountable