unpassable

un·pass·able | \ ˌən-ˈpa-sə-bəl

How to pronounce unpassable (audio)

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Definition of unpassable

: incapable of being traveled, traveled through, or crossed : impassible … a continent of land of at least 1800 miles, in which journey we had … unpassable deserts to go over …— Daniel Defoe

Examples of unpassable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Nearly a month later, many roads remain unpassable, and power has yet to be restored to significant parts of the areas hardest hit. — Sarah Ravits, NOLA.com, "The Vulnerable: Laura proves it's time to rethink how we handle hurricanes," 21 Sep. 2020 The roads to the town are unpassable, with trees down and embers still burning. — New York Times, "‘Nowhere Else to Go’: Some Defy Warnings to Flee Australian Fires," 3 Jan. 2020 Reaching this vista required veering up onto a dusty, unpaved road that is often unpassable during the winter except by horse. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "A look behind the Hollister Ranch gates. Will the public ever access these exclusive beaches?," 12 Apr. 2019 Reaching this vista required veering up onto a dusty, unpaved road that is often unpassable during the winter except by horse. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "A look behind the Hollister Ranch gates. Will the public ever access these exclusive beaches?," 12 Apr. 2019 Many roads in and around Yellowstone National Park remain covered with snow and unpassable. — Washington Post, "Men rescued after getting bad GPS info on way to Yellowstone," 5 May 2018 Trump appears to be claiming that, as a last resort to ban imports, American cars are forced to pass an unpassable test. — Philip Bump, Washington Post, "So, uh, what’s this bowling-ball test that Trump was talking about?," 15 Mar. 2018 Working with a low budget that never becomes a hindrance, Mr. Perry uses exterior space to convey interiority, as when Alyssa speaks to Nick — who keeps his back to her — from across a room that feels like a vast, unpassable chasm. — Manohla Dargis, New York Times, "Review: In ‘Golden Exits,’ Ties That Bind (and Cut Too)," 8 Feb. 2018 After an initial inspection, Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, estimated nearly 90% of homes on the island are totally destroyed, with communications down, roads unpassable, and substantial flooding. — Jennifer L. Anderson, Fortune, "Hurricane Irma’s Caribbean Victims Need America Right Now," 8 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unpassable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Unpassable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpassable. Accessed 24 Jan. 2021.

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