1
as in dense
impossible to get through or into
the ancient temple was surrounded by vast stretches of impenetrable jungle
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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
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3
as in incomprehensible
impossible to understand
the textbook's language is completely impenetrable, at least to me
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impenetrable
In any case, Bennett warned that tensions simmering from within the seemingly impenetrable fortress of North Korea could propel Kim toward more radical actions.
—
Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Her father is also a fan of sexy suiting, pairing statement diamond necklaces with waistcoats, and impenetrable shades.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2025
Cisco, then the leading supplier of equipment that served as the plumbing for the internet, was thought to have impenetrable margins and a certain roadmap for meteoric growth, and briefly became the most valuable company in the world.
—Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
The reviews tended to be long and sometimes impenetrable, but people paid attention to the numbers.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Her father is also a fan of sexy suiting, pairing statement diamond necklaces with waistcoats, and impenetrable shades.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2025
Cisco, then the leading supplier of equipment that served as the plumbing for the internet, was thought to have impenetrable margins and a certain roadmap for meteoric growth, and briefly became the most valuable company in the world.
—Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
The reviews tended to be long and sometimes impenetrable, but people paid attention to the numbers.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impenetrable
Adjective
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And when that fish, in turn, succumbs to the claws of a bald eagle, its DDT dense meat becomes a poisonous lunch for an oblivious bird.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
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On top of being a fantastic collectible card game that's always refreshing its mechanics, the dense multiverse-building and sprawling lore, the cards themselves are traditionally gorgeous to look at.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In an effort to help the group retrieve it, Guy encounters William Fitchner’s Jasper, a mysterious American who has quietly assumed control and influence over the Talamasca’s London Motherhouse.—
Abbey White,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
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Released in 2004, the film follows Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, who finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Then there’s an incomprehensible scene in which Stuhlbarg’s Frederik storms in and out of the kitchen angrily, having turned his music up to an unlistenable volume, while Alma and Maggie—a guest in their home that evening—try to have a serious conversation.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Aug. 2025
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The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
American Airlines passengers who have tight connections to make could benefit from a new tool that was just introduced in Phoenix.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Rising prices, high rates, and economic uncertainty are combining to keep many aspiring homeowners on the sidelines, while those looking for homes contend with intense competition and tight supply.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Various groups develop impervious boundaries, neutralizing the effectiveness of people who have to interact across them.—
Carol Kinsey Goman,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Roads, sidewalks, parking lots and even rooftops create more impervious surfaces where water falls and can't be absorbed into the ground.—
Laura Schulte,
jsonline.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
These fish, known for their cryptic behavior, were identified as a neonative species, expanding their range naturally.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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Ars reached out to Google for an explanation, receiving a cryptic and somewhat unsatisfying reply.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
4 Sep. 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
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Airports and airplanes do not have a monopoly on unintelligible announcements.—
Michel A. Ibrahim,
Baltimore Sun,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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Because of that, thick fire walls were installed throughout the plant's buildings.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
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The air was damp and listless and the heat was something to wade through, thick as molasses.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impenetrable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impenetrable. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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