impenetrable

impenetrable

adjective

Definition of IMPENETRABLE

1

impossible to get through or into <the ancient temple was surrounded by vast stretches of impenetrable jungle>

Synonyms impassable (also impassible), impermeable, impervious, impregnable

Related Words close, compact, dense, thick, tight; compressed, condensed; sturdy, substantial, tough; firm, frozen, hard, solid, stiff; inflexible, rigid, unbending, unyielding

Near Antonyms soft, squishy; bendable, elastic, flexible, giving, malleable, pliable, yielding; absorbent, porous

Antonyms negotiable, passable, penetrable, permeable

2

being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain <the mysteries of that religion are completely impenetrable to outsiders>

Synonyms arcane, cryptic, deep, enigmatic (also enigmatical), impenetrable, inscrutable, mystic, occult, uncanny

Related Words dark, darkling, fuzzy, murky, obscure, shadowy, vague; ambiguous, equivocal; imponderable, incomprehensible, unfathomable, unintelligible, unsearchable; inexplicable, unaccountable, unexplainable; unanswerable, unknowable; metaphysical, mystical, numinous, supernatural; abstruse, esoteric, recondite; baffling, befuddling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, disorienting, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling

Near Antonyms fathomable, intelligible, understandable; apparent, clear, evident, manifest, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, perspicuous, plain, straightforward, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable

3

impossible to understand <the textbook's language is completely impenetrable, at least to me>

Synonyms impenetrable, unfathomable, ungraspable, unintelligible

Related Words abstruse, enigmatic (also enigmatical), esoteric, indecipherable, inscrutable, recondite, unsearchable; cryptic, darkling, deep, mysterious, mystic, oblique, obscure, occult, uncanny; unanswerable, unknowable; baffling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling; inconceivable, unimaginable, unthinkable

Near Antonyms basic, elemental, elementary, essential, fundamental, rudimentary, underlying; easy, simple; coherent, connected, ordered, orderly, organized, systematic, systematized; clear, cogent, compelling, convincing, lucid, pellucid, perspicuous, plain, straightforward

Antonyms fathomable, intelligible, understandable

4

not allowing penetration (as by gas, liquid, or light) <the container of toxic waste has an impenetrable seal to prevent leaks>

Synonyms impenetrable, impermeable, impervious

Related Words close, compact, dense, snug, thick; airtight, hermetic (also hermetical), leakproof, watertight; lightproof, soundproof, waterproof

Near Antonyms absorbent, leaky, porous, unsealed

Antonyms penetrable, permeable, pervious