insurmountable

adjective

ˌin(t)-sər-ˈmau̇n-tə-bəl How to pronounce insurmountable (audio)
Definition of insurmountablenext
as in insuperable
incapable of being defeated, overcome, or subdued the familiar story of the underdog who ultimately triumphs despite insurmountable odds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 insurmountable But complex, long-term construction projects can change drastically, or face insurmountable roadblocks, over their development cycles. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026 Austria made the Final 8 after Jurji Rodionov beat Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 7-6, 6-3 to build an insurmountable 3-1 advantage. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 The report highlights that even as fiber lines are extended into rural areas and billions of federal and state dollars are deployed, affordability and access remain insurmountable barriers for many families. — Erin Mote, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026 Charlotte leaders on Monday lambasted the state as a bad faith partner but indicated the financial pressure campaign might be an insurmountable obstacle. — Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for insurmountable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insurmountable
  1. insuperable
  2. unconquerable
  3. invincible
  4. unstoppable
  5. indomitable
  6. unbeatable
  7. invulnerable
  8. impregnable
Adjective
  • Orban succeeded in this enterprise to what seemed like an insuperable level.
    — Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Raise the stakes, place insuperable obstacles before the protagonist, have the protagonist somehow surmount them while becoming braver and better.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Definition of insuperable
Adjective
  • But the advent of NIL has turned the gap into an unconquerable chasm.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The rescue party made its way to New York harbor by train, private car, and then two bicycles shared among the three of them—Frank, Sarah’s husband, on one; Sarah and Billo on the other—when shipyard traffic proved unconquerable by automobile.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of unconquerable
Adjective
  • McClellan is particularly interested in examining the contrast between the seemingly invincible figures photographed in the arena and their often precarious lives outside it.
    — Robert Lang, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026
  • In some Bengali traditions, Vijayadashami rituals include Aparajita Puja, the worship of the goddess in her invincible form, sometimes represented by the butterfly pea plant.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of invincible
Adjective
  • Those two, coupled with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey (and even VJ Edgecombe), could provide an unstoppable big four.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The JSerra passing duo of Kate Meier and Tessa Russell has been unstoppable.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of unstoppable
Adjective
  • The indomitable Diane von Furstenberg was awarded the 2026 Couture Council Award from the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology on Thursday afternoon for her transformational influence on women’s fashion.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Explore See latest videos, charts and news For Strickland, his indomitable work ethic helped propel him to becoming the first Black AEW World Champion.
    — Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of indomitable
Adjective
  • Their comfort is unbeatable, especially in a city where there’s so much to explore (not to mention the fickle weather patterns).
    — Nuria Luis, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The neighborhood/area The location is unbeatable, thanks to its proximity to designer shopping on Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga, along with the famed La Scala Theatre.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of unbeatable
Adjective
  • Historically, being a strong leader meant being invulnerable and stoic—showing no signs of weakness.
    — Krishna Savani, Harvard Business Review, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Why does Gleb discount the power of those words and feel himself invulnerable?
    — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of invulnerable
Adjective
  • Their security infrastructure is more impregnable than that of a bank.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Dropped catches from Steve Smith, Green and Travis Head ensured yesterday's brief rally in the field fizzled out and allowed Bangladesh to bat itself into an almost impregnable position.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of impregnable

Browse Nearby Words

insuring
insurmountable
insurrection
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insurmountable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insurmountable. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of disparate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All