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

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

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 famed route experienced extensive blowdowns, erosion, and landslides, resulting in much of the roadway being impassable after Helene struck in September 2024. —Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025

About 10 people were stranded for hours in their cars when the road became impassable in both directions near Jenks Lake, the San Bernardino County sheriff’s office said. —Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025

As dozens would discover over the ensuing centuries, the Arctic Ocean is impassable for most of the year. —Robin Catalano, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025

Or does the game offer alternative options for getting around what might be impassable progression walls? —ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025

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