impassable 1 of 2

adjective (1)

(ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-bəl How to pronounce impassable (audio)
variants also impassible
Definition of impassablenext
as in dense
impossible to get through or into the road was impassable until snowplows cleared it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

impassible

2 of 2

adjective (2)

(ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-bəl How to pronounce impassible (audio)
as in stoic
not feeling or showing emotion years of living behind bars had rendered him impassible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of impassable
Adjective
Officials on Saturday morning said the Gilman Trail is impassable and closed near the Edgelawn Avenue east trailhead due to flooding. — Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2026 Fire safety regulations have long required multifamily buildings to contain two or more staircases so that residents can exit their homes safely if one staircase is impassable because of smoke or other reasons. — Alex Schwartz, The Conversation, 29 May 2026
Adjective
This front will bring heavy snow to areas downwind of the Great Lakes, which could severely impact travel until Saturday and make some roads impassible. — Gavon Laessig, NBC news, 27 Nov. 2025 The storm left 1,467 roads impassible, NCDOT said, cutting off several communities from the outside world. — Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impassable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impassable
  1. dense
  2. close
  3. impervious
  4. impenetrable
  5. impermeable
  6. impregnable
  7. frozen
  8. thick
Adjective
  • Videos of the pyrotechnics display show the pitch filling with tall showers of sparks and dense smoke as dozens of fireworks launched upward.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • The rare Saturday night game at the iconic North Side ballpark started an hour late due to rain, then fog billowed in from the north starting in the second inning and got denser.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of dense
Adjective
  • Even though talks with the Boston Red Sox at last year’s deadline never got close, the confusion provided by an incorrect tweet announcing Ryan’s trade to New England put the pitcher at the top of every trade list before the season even began.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • Ashley Smith is the manager of player engagement for the NFL, and the siblings are close.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026
Definition of close
Adjective
  • Overloading Your Washer Even the softest of towels are not impervious to improper laundering, and overloading your washer or using too little water can affect how thoroughly the towels are washed.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 30 June 2026
  • Crafted from durable high-density polyethylene, these Adirondack chairs are resistant to corrosion and impervious to the elements.
    — Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 25 June 2026
Definition of impervious
Adjective
  • In the venue’s defense, the arena’s near-impenetrable exterior likely had something to do with its appeal.
    — Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • Quaintance, in particular, is potentially a monster on defense, and uniting him with Wembanyama might make this team virtually impenetrable.
    — John Hollinger, New York Times, 25 June 2026
Definition of impenetrable
Adjective
  • Chocolate brown stripes punctuate a light charcoal gray background, and the low-pile weave made from recycled polyester gives it an impermeable, easy-to-clean surface.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2026
  • Needing to remain impermeable to everything that is said about him is another stylistic exercise built into the equation of being a global star.
    — TIME, Time, 26 June 2026
Definition of impermeable
Adjective
  • Alexander the Great conquered it in 332 BCE after building a causeway to what had been considered an impregnable island fortress.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 23 June 2026
  • On that occasion a team made up of players who had all been born in Haiti shocked an Italy team famed for its impregnable defense.
    — Laurent Dubois, The Conversation, 10 June 2026
Definition of impregnable
Adjective
  • The size of the frozen zone in which crews are working to stabilize a building in Midtown Manhattan was decreased late Tuesday, but some roads remain blocked.
    — Kelly McCleary, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • Locals can purchase summer pool passes and spend the afternoon sipping frozen cocktails and enjoying light bites at the Pool House.
    — Kate Donnelly, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of frozen
Adjective
  • The combination makes strands thicker, fuller, stronger, frizz-free, and softer—and thus, longer with less shedding and breakage.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 2 July 2026
  • The brown, round cookie has arms and legs, one eyebrow thicker than the other, and one buck tooth.
    — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of thick

Browse Nearby Words

impart (to)
impassable
impasse
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Cite this Entry

“Impassable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impassable. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on impassable

Nglish: Translation of impassable for Spanish Speakers

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