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

• impenetrable
• impermeable
• impervious
• impregnable

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

These places may not be cut off from the world by the open ocean, but their barriers are no less impassable. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024

Roads across the state remained impassable following Milton's torrential downpour and storm surge. —Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2024

The next two-mile stretch from Sturtevant Camp northeast to Newcomb Pass remains impassable. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024

Many roads in North Carolina remain impassable due to storm damage. —Sareen Habeshian, Axios, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined above

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