insurmountable

adjective

in·​sur·​mount·​able ˌin(t)-sər-ˈmau̇n-tə-bəl How to pronounce insurmountable (audio)
: incapable of being surmounted : insuperable
insurmountable problems
insurmountably adverb

Examples of insurmountable in a Sentence

They were faced with several insurmountable obstacles. the familiar story of the underdog who ultimately triumphs despite insurmountable odds
Recent Examples on the Web
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For someone experiencing domestic violence, housing insecurity, or financial instability, those requirements can be just as insurmountable as making it to a clinic. Amy Hagstrom Miller, Time, 1 May 2025 Not a stranger to overcoming insurmountable challenges, Knowles began to fiercely advocate for the group and ultimately stepped up to create some of the group’s most iconic looks. Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 The financial hit that teams and their ownership groups take in a traditional promotion and relegation system can be insurmountable. Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party, was widely unpopular, and polls showed the Conservatives with what seemed like an insurmountable 25-point lead. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insurmountable

Word History

First Known Use

1690, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of insurmountable was in 1690

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Cite this Entry

“Insurmountable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insurmountable. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

insurmountable

adjective
in·​sur·​mount·​able ˌin(t)-sər-ˈmau̇nt-ə-bəl How to pronounce insurmountable (audio)
: incapable of being surmounted

More from Merriam-Webster on insurmountable

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