Definition of impenetrable
1a : incapable of being penetrated or piercedb : inaccessible to knowledge, reason, or sympathy : impervious
2 : incapable of being comprehended : inscrutable
From the M-W Editors
Examples of impenetrable in a Sentence
The fort's defenses were thought to be impenetrable.
the ancient temple was surrounded by vast stretches of impenetrable jungle
Recent Examples of impenetrable from the Web
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But it is hobbled by a tiresome load of exposition, spurts of tedium, some near-impenetrable accents and caricatures of those at the bottom of the class heap Wimsey strides atop.
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With the tenacious Batliner, Barrington's defense has been virtually impenetrable.
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The preceding paragraphs only hint at the nearly impenetrable complexity of flood risk assessment.
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Architecturally, the bunker-style building is a bland structure impenetrable to electronic eavesdropping.
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Yeah, these darn kids today, with their weird abbreviations, acronyms — all that impenetrable insider jargon.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impenetrable'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of impenetrable
Middle English impenetrabel, from Middle French impenetrable, from Latin impenetrabilis, from in- + penetrabilis penetrable
First Known Use: 15th century
IMPENETRABLE Defined for English Language Learners
impenetrable
playDefinition of impenetrable for English Language Learners
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: impossible to pass or see through
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: impossible to understand
IMPENETRABLE Defined for Kids
impenetrable
playDefinition of impenetrable for Students
1 : impossible to pass through or see through impenetrable walls impenetrable darkness
2 : impossible to understand an impenetrable mystery
Learn More about impenetrable
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for impenetrable Spanish Central: Translation of impenetrable Nglish: Translation of impenetrable for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of impenetrable for Arabic speakers
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