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
The difficult terrain, impenetrable vegetation, and challenging navigation mean most hikers cover at least 50 percent more distance than that.
—
Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 25 Mar. 2025
The Atelier series has always been quite dense and somewhat impenetrable for new players, but the Ryza subseries does its best to be approachable for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Sure, the misguided invention is another ding to Jesse’s ego, but that armor is all but impenetrable by now, as is his status as leader of the family’s (hugely profitable) church.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
Samples with microbes ended up in one chamber, the L-serine in the other, and the barrier, formed using a gel, was formulated to be permeable to microbes but impenetrable by abiotic particles.
—Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 25 Mar. 2025
The Atelier series has always been quite dense and somewhat impenetrable for new players, but the Ryza subseries does its best to be approachable for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Sure, the misguided invention is another ding to Jesse’s ego, but that armor is all but impenetrable by now, as is his status as leader of the family’s (hugely profitable) church.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
Samples with microbes ended up in one chamber, the L-serine in the other, and the barrier, formed using a gel, was formulated to be permeable to microbes but impenetrable by abiotic particles.
—Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impenetrable
Adjective
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The company still relies on carriers for a portion of its deliveries, including the U.S. Postal Service, which is traditionally relied on for shipments to costlier and less dense rural areas.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
30 Apr. 2025
-
But liquid water is, unusually, denser than its solid icy form.—
Robin George Andrews,
Quanta Magazine,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
That includes the appearance of a brand new character, Lewis Pullman's mysterious Bob, a.k.a.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
2 May 2025
-
Purple honey is a rare honey that has a purple color and a mysterious origin.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
The terrible tragedy that some people went through is just incomprehensible.—
Ari Daniel,
Smithsonian Magazine,
1 May 2025
-
Researching feels incomprehensible or inapplicable, especially as a business owner.—
Bree Manay,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Tour demands that players lift up their floors — and flaws — in tight moments.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
For smaller companies or those operating with tight budgets, these costs can seem prohibitive, especially when the return on investment (ROI) is uncertain or far beyond the headlights.—
Tim Houlne,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This change alone reduced impervious surfaces by over 125,000 square feet, significantly decreasing runoff and improving stormwater management.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
-
That includes the Harambee neighborhood, which has a lack of trees and lots of impervious surfaces, Goray said.—
Madeline Heim,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to ‘find the accountant,’ Wolff is compelled to solve the case.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Despite the cryptic message, many fans figured out where to find the singer and showed up in droves, forcing Lorde to initially cancel her appearance.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But wait: That angry voice seems to grow louder, if still unintelligible — and is now joined by the murmuring of others.—
John Hanc,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
-
From our review: Khan’s lack of screen presence, toothless mixed martial arts sequences and unintelligible editing further knock the film down.—
The New York Times,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The material is also thick enough to feel supportive but lightweight enough to wear year-round.—
Susan Brickell,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2025
-
That model, nicknamed iPhone 17 Air, will be super-slim, as little as 5.5mm thick.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impenetrable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impenetrable. Accessed 10 May. 2025.
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