1
as in dense
impossible to get through or into
the ancient temple was surrounded by vast stretches of impenetrable jungle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mysterious
being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain
the mysteries of that religion are completely impenetrable to outsiders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in incomprehensible
impossible to understand
the textbook's language is completely impenetrable, at least to me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in tight
not allowing penetration (as by gas, liquid, or light)
the container of toxic waste has an impenetrable seal to prevent leaks
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 impenetrable
After that, Alcaraz brought the hammer down with his otherwise impenetrable delivery, which was broken only three times across the tournament.
—
Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
This is all meant to be impenetrable to outsiders, which is one reason for the confusion that follows shootings such as the one in Minneapolis.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Yet, across the water, a seemingly impenetrable wall of the invasive plants sways in the wind, several feet tall.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
At this time, the entirety of the right side of the lunar disk will be directly illuminated by sunlight, presenting the ancient basaltic plains of Mare Serenitatis and Mare Tranquilitatis to exploration, while its left side will remain veiled in impenetrable darkness.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
This is all meant to be impenetrable to outsiders, which is one reason for the confusion that follows shootings such as the one in Minneapolis.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Yet, across the water, a seemingly impenetrable wall of the invasive plants sways in the wind, several feet tall.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
At this time, the entirety of the right side of the lunar disk will be directly illuminated by sunlight, presenting the ancient basaltic plains of Mare Serenitatis and Mare Tranquilitatis to exploration, while its left side will remain veiled in impenetrable darkness.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impenetrable
Adjective
-
Other valuable fruiting plants include elderberry, spicebush (), and native roses, which produce nutrient-dense hips in fall.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Since September 2024, a new federal law requires mammogram reports to state whether breast tissue is dense, and to mention the possibility of additional imaging.—
Dr. Megha Gupta,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Set against the backdrop of the Mediterranean at the height of summer, the erotic thriller follows Calvin Wells (Funk), a charismatic conman who sets his sights on Katrine Winters (Meadow Williams), a mysterious billionaire widow.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2025
-
For an event celebrating a dark and mysterious being, the vibe is surprisingly uplifting.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
And the thought of McDavid leaving Edmonton under any condition once felt incomprehensible.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
His way through was by finding connection with a character whose deeds seem incomprehensible.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
So Rizza skipped the presentation format of the past in favor of a tight selection of one-on-one appointments, mostly with retailers.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
3 Oct. 2025
-
And results have largely been mixed since Carson Wentz has taken over as the starter, winning a 48-10 blowout over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3 and then losing a tight game in Ireland against the Pittsburgh Steelers.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But that doesn't mean Davis is impervious to economic headwinds.—
Laura Hackett,
NPR,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Broder was a rare figure that was impervious to the notorious agency wars, commanding respect across agency lines.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The cryptic video came after one of the ugliest stretches yet in Cardi and Minaj’s decade-long feud.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
This cryptic species, first described in 2001, was among several mammals recorded by trail cameras set up by researchers.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
However, audio quality can make or break social media content and while some people can tolerate less-than-perfect video, poor and unintelligible sound often has audiences swiping left.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
-
Airports and airplanes do not have a monopoly on unintelligible announcements.—
Michel A. Ibrahim,
Baltimore Sun,
22 June 2025
Adjective
-
Some models suggest that K2-18b is a hycean world — an ocean planet with a thick atmosphere of hydrogen — and the signature of dimethyl sulfide was detected by the James Webb Space Telescope.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Its fabric is thick but not too heavy, according to reviewers, which is great for someone like me whose body temperature fluctuates constantly.—
Melody Kazel,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impenetrable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impenetrable. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share