impassable

adjective

im·​pass·​able (ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-bəl 

variants or less commonly impassible

: incapable of being passed, traveled, crossed, or surmounted

impassability

(ˌ)im-ˌpa-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

impassableness

(ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-bəl-nəs 

noun

impassably

(ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms of impassable

• dense
• close
• impervious
• impenetrable
• impermeable
• impregnable
• frozen
• thick

Examples of impassable in a Sentence

The roads were made impassable by the flood.

the road was impassable until snowplows cleared it

Recent Examples on the Web

This week, Boston schools were closed for two days because sidewalks were impassable and some streets clogged with snow. —Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 29 Jan. 2026

In North Baltimore, the street next to Jim Freaney's home was impassable, like several others in the city. —Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026

Ice and snow covered roadways will become treacherous and impassable. —Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan. 2026

Local officials and weather forecasters have urged Texans to stay off roads this weekend unless absolutely necessary, as ice and snow may make some roads impassable. —Lauren Caruba, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for impassable

• passable
• impassible
• irascible
• unsurpassable

Kids Definition

impassable

adjective

im·​pass·​able (ˈ)im-ˈpas-ə-bəl 

: impossible to pass, cross, or travel over

roads made impassable by the hurricane

impassability

(ˌ)im-ˌpas-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun