Impenetrable — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /(ˌ)im-ˈpe-nə-trə-bəl/ im·pen·e·tra·ble

Meaning & Definition of Impenetrable

Impenetrable (adjective)

  1. incapable of being penetrated or pierced
  2. inaccessible to knowledge, reason, or sympathy, impervious
  3. incapable of being comprehended, inscrutable

Impenetrable (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. impossible to get through or into

    "the ancient temple was surrounded by vast stretches of impenetrable jungle"

    similar: impassable, impermeable, impervious, impregnable
    related: close, compact, dense, thick, tight, compressed, condensed, sturdy, substantial, tough, firm, frozen, hard, solid, stiff, inflexible, rigid, unbending, unyielding
    opposite: negotiable, passable, penetrable, permeable
    near: soft, squishy, bendable, elastic, flexible, giving, malleable, pliable, yielding, absorbent, porous

  2. being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain

    "the mysteries of that religion are completely impenetrable to outsiders"

    similar: arcane, cryptic, deep, enigmatic, inscrutable, mysterious, mystic, occult, uncanny
    related: dark, darkling, fuzzy, murky, obscure, shadowy, vague, ambiguous, equivocal, imponderable, incomprehensible, unfathomable, unintelligible, unsearchable, inexplicable, unaccountable, unexplainable, unanswerable, unknowable, metaphysical, mystical, numinous, supernatural, abstruse, esoteric, recondite, baffling, befuddling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, disorienting, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling
    near: fathomable, intelligible, understandable, apparent, clear, evident, manifest, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, perspicuous, plain, straightforward, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable

  3. impossible to understand

    "the textbook's language is completely impenetrable, at least to me"

    similar: incomprehensible, unfathomable, ungraspable, unintelligible
    related: abstruse, enigmatic, esoteric, indecipherable, inscrutable, recondite, unsearchable, cryptic, darkling, deep, mysterious, mystic, oblique, obscure, occult, uncanny, unanswerable, unknowable, baffling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling, inconceivable, unimaginable, unthinkable
    opposite: fathomable, intelligible, understandable
    near: basic, elemental, elementary, essential, fundamental, rudimentary, underlying, easy, simple, coherent, connected, ordered, orderly, organized, systematic, systematized, clear, cogent, compelling, convincing, lucid, pellucid, perspicuous, plain, straightforward

  4. not allowing penetration (as by gas, liquid, or light)

    "the container of toxic waste has an impenetrable seal to prevent leaks"

    similar: impermeable, impervious, tight
    related: close, compact, dense, snug, thick, airtight, hermetic, leakproof, watertight, lightproof, soundproof, waterproof
    opposite: penetrable, permeable, pervious
    near: absorbent, leaky, porous, unsealed

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Impenetrable

The most common words with a similar meaning to Impenetrable:

impassable, impermeable, impervious, impregnable, arcane, cryptic, deep, enigmatic, inscrutable, mysterious, mystic, occult, uncanny, incomprehensible, unfathomable, ungraspable, unintelligible, tight

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Impenetrable

Words with the opposite meaning of Impenetrable:

negotiable, passable, penetrable, permeable, fathomable, intelligible, understandable, pervious

Related Words for Impenetrable

close, compact, dense, thick, compressed, condensed, sturdy, substantial, tough, firm, frozen, hard, solid, stiff, inflexible, rigid, unbending, unyielding, dark, darkling, fuzzy, murky, obscure, shadowy, vague, ambiguous, equivocal, imponderable, unsearchable, inexplicable

Near Antonyms of Impenetrable

soft, squishy, bendable, elastic, flexible, giving, malleable, pliable, yielding, absorbent, porous, apparent, clear, evident, manifest, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, perspicuous, plain, straightforward, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable, basic, elemental, elementary, essential

Word Forms of Impenetrable

Derived words: impenetrably (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Impenetrable

Middle English impenetrabel, from Middle French impenetrable, from Latin impenetrabilis, from in- + penetrabilis penetrable

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Impenetrable

What does "Impenetrable" mean?

"Impenetrable" means incapable of being penetrated or pierced. As an adjective, it is defined as: incapable of being penetrated or pierced. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Impenetrable"?

Other words for "Impenetrable" include impassable, impermeable, impervious, impregnable, arcane, cryptic, deep and enigmatic. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Impenetrable" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Impenetrable"?

There are 81 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Impenetrable". Common alternatives include impassable, impermeable, impervious, impregnable, arcane, cryptic, deep, enigmatic, inscrutable and mysterious.

What is the opposite of "Impenetrable"?

Antonyms of "Impenetrable" include negotiable, passable, penetrable, permeable, fathomable, intelligible, understandable and pervious. Near antonyms include soft, squishy, bendable and elastic.

How do you use "Impenetrable" in a sentence?

Examples of "Impenetrable" in a sentence: "the ancient temple was surrounded by vast stretches of impenetrable jungle"; "the mysteries of that religion are completely impenetrable to outsiders"; "the textbook's language is completely impenetrable, at least to me".

Is "Impenetrable" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Impenetrable" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Impenetrable"?

"Impenetrable" is pronounced /(ˌ)im-ˈpe-nə-trə-bəl/ and divided into syllables as im·pen·e·tra·ble.

What is the origin of the word "Impenetrable"?

"Impenetrable" comes from Middle English impenetrabel, from Middle French impenetrable, from Latin impenetrabilis, from in- + penetrabilis penetrable. First known use: 15th century.