as in mysteriousness
the quality or state of being impossible to know, understand, or explain
the impenetrability of her prose is apparently the basis of her appeal to literary snobs
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Recent Examples of impenetrability
Played with gruff impenetrability and a thinly veiled sadistic streak by David Shih, this big dog’s name is Mitsuo, but no one uses names in the heya — only ranks.
—
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2025
Curiously, this rediscovered impenetrability has come with Nick Pope, the undisputed No 1 goalkeeper, injured.
—Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
Kim Gordon, The Collective A 71-year-old noise-rocker reciting spoken word over drum machines might scan as avant-garde impenetrability.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024
Scott blends Damon’s close-to-the-bone fragility and Alain Delon’s simmering impenetrability in making this uncertain Tom Ripley his own.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for impenetrability
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2025
Curiously, this rediscovered impenetrability has come with Nick Pope, the undisputed No 1 goalkeeper, injured.
—Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
Kim Gordon, The Collective A 71-year-old noise-rocker reciting spoken word over drum machines might scan as avant-garde impenetrability.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024
Scott blends Damon’s close-to-the-bone fragility and Alain Delon’s simmering impenetrability in making this uncertain Tom Ripley his own.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for impenetrability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impenetrability
ambiguity
Noun
-
This ambiguity let entrepreneurs like Sanders move into the market without immediate legal repercussions.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Resilience During Uncertainty – AI disruption creates stress and ambiguity; addressing our self-care needs helps leaders sustain performance and avoid burnout.—
Tony Gambill,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impenetrability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impenetrability. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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