im·pass·able
(ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-bəl 
variants
or less commonly impassible
: incapable of being passed, traveled, crossed, or surmounted
im·pas·si·ble
(ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-bəl
1
a
: incapable of suffering or of experiencing pain
b
: inaccessible to injury
2
: incapable of feeling : impassive
im·pas·si·ble
less common spelling of impassable
: incapable of being passed, traveled, crossed, or surmounted
plural -es
: the quality or state of being impassible
the impassibility or aloofness she showed sometimes toward me—
Mary McCarthy
Mary McCarthySynonyms of impassable
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Adjective (1)
Adjective (2)
Examples of impassable in a Sentence
Adjective (1)
The roads were made impassable by the flood.
the road was impassable until snowplows cleared it
Adjective (2)
years of living behind bars had rendered him impassible
Recent Examples on the Web
Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 15 June 2026
The battle did not go well for us, for the British expertly flanked the Continental Army, captured our withdrawal route and trapped the bulk of our army with its back against the Gowanus marsh, which was considered impassable.
—Paul Callahan, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2026
Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
The war in Iran has whipsawed oil markets as the Strait of Hormuz has remained largely impassible.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impassable
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Adjective
Floodwaters in Waco left roads on Interstate 35 impassable and stranded drivers in their vehicles, prompting numerous search-and-rescue responses early Monday, June 15, Texas Game Wardens said.
—Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 15 June 2026
The battle did not go well for us, for the British expertly flanked the Continental Army, captured our withdrawal route and trapped the bulk of our army with its back against the Gowanus marsh, which was considered impassable.
—Paul Callahan, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2026
Adjective
In Aurora, the Prairie Path was flooded and impassible between Route 25 and Illinois Avenue, according to the park district’s news release on Friday.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
The war in Iran has whipsawed oil markets as the Strait of Hormuz has remained largely impassible.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impassable
Cite this Entry
“Impassable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impassable. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impassable
adjective
im·pass·able
(ˈ)im-ˈpas-ə-bəl
: impossible to pass, cross, or travel over
roads made impassable by the hurricane
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