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

The critical shipping passage has been largely impassable since the conflict began more than a month ago. —Sarah Min, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2026

This would, in a worst-case scenario, create an impassable debris field around Earth. —Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026

State highways and county roads also became impassable, with government agencies issuing multiple no travel advisories amid blizzard warnings. —Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 26 Mar. 2026

Although parked legally, the cars made the route impassable for school buses, plow trucks, fire trucks or ambulances. —Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 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