impassable

1 of 2

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

impassability

2 of 2

noun

im·​passability (¦)im+ 

: the quality or state of being impassable

stopped by the complete impassability of the road

Synonyms of impassable

Adjective

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

Examples of impassable in a Sentence

Adjective

The roads were made impassable by the flood.

the road was impassable until snowplows cleared it

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The floating schools were a response to a longstanding local problem of seasonal floods and impassable, muddy roads that kept children from reaching conventional schools. — Ali Asif Shawon, NPR, 5 Sep. 2026

Many trees will fall, roads may become impassable and power and water could be unavailable for days or weeks. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Roads can become impassable, evacuation orders can change and homes or outdoor enclosures can be damaged, leaving pets vulnerable to injury or escape. — Melanie Marshall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026

Roads were impassable, and the child's home was surrounded by deep water. — Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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