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

Several streets have been left impassable with water deep enough to cover car bumpers and get inside people's homes. —Noel Brennan, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026

Powerful winds and reported tornadoes ripped through the Midwest, tearing off roofs, uprooting trees and rendering rural roads impassable, but no deaths were reported from Friday’s storms. —Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026

Also check the weather; most roads in the monument are dirt or gravel and can become impassable in rain. —Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026

The critical shipping passage has been largely impassable since the conflict began more than a month ago. —Sarah Min, CNBC, 3 Apr. 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