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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impenetrable
Igor Shesterkin dominance continues Since coming back from an upper-body injury Jan. 9, Igor Shesterkin has been pretty much impenetrable.
—
Peter Baugh, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Independent stores are lush gardens where creativity flourishes, while big-box chains can feel like impenetrable fortresses.
—Joel Goldstein, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Image Japan has long been regarded as impenetrable for foreign companies seeking mergers and acquisitions.
—River Akira Davis, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2024
Lynch wove tales, not unlike those of his Spanish predecessor Luis Bunuel, which proceeded with their own impenetrable logic.
—Chris Morris, Variety, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for impenetrable 
Peter Baugh, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Independent stores are lush gardens where creativity flourishes, while big-box chains can feel like impenetrable fortresses.
—Joel Goldstein, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Image Japan has long been regarded as impenetrable for foreign companies seeking mergers and acquisitions.
—River Akira Davis, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2024
Lynch wove tales, not unlike those of his Spanish predecessor Luis Bunuel, which proceeded with their own impenetrable logic.
—Chris Morris, Variety, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for impenetrable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impenetrable
Adjective
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This petite pick packs a springtime punch with its dense collection of yellow, red, and purple tulips.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Feb. 2025
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On the other hand, Halsey’s smart, dense, often weird music has lately been overshadowed by the drama that continually dogs her.—
Stephen Deusner,
SPIN,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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That gusher of findings will include new observations of exoplanets—or planets orbiting other stars; new surveys of the structure of the Milky Way; and new studies of dark energy, the mysterious, invisible force that causes the universe to expand continuously at an ever-accelerating rate.—
Jeffrey Kluger/Greenbelt,
TIME,
8 Feb. 2025
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Beyond mysterious Gathering new data about Venus is vital, Garvin pointed out, so that the next wave of exploration is grounded in what must be done first as scientists attempt to further reveal our sister world.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
This is something incomprehensible to any human being.—
Caitlin McFall,
Fox News,
5 Feb. 2025
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The loss of Oakland’s MLB team and then the city’s greatest MLB son in the same year is an almost incomprehensible loss for fans like Peters, who feel abandoned by the league.—
Melissa Lockard,
The Athletic,
21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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By relaxing the rule, Nevada might get access to additional eggs, but the supply of all eggs remains tight because nearly 159 million birds have been slaughtered since the bird flu outbreak began in 2022 to help limit virus spread.—
Josh Funk,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
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Because of the ferrets’ long, slim shape and the necessity of not making the collars too tight, the wily animals can slip out of the trackers, Boulerice said.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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If there’s a black cloud hovering over Spectrum Center, Charles Lee certainly is impervious to it.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Feb. 2025
-
Over its multi-year run as part of NBC’s Dateline franchise, To Catch a Predator wasn’t impervious to criticism or lawsuits, but it was surely insulated.—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But the child’s uncle departed with a cryptic comment when he was told how happy his brother’s family had appeared to their neighbors.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2025
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All while his admittedly gorgeous leading lady plays a cryptic symbol?—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The sometimes unintelligible lyrics roll out over spare acoustic guitar in what sounds like an unfinished demo.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
16 Jan. 2025
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From lobbing slow-motion, underhanded softballs of no public interest to failing to seek clarification for unintelligible tirades to ignoring or allowing falsehoods and blatant political spin, the interview serves less as a public service and more as a reminder of ...—
Becket Adams,
National Review,
12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Each new song escalated the tension, which eventually grew so thick that the rappers took mere hours to respond with a new attack.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN,
9 Feb. 2025
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Days later, during a news briefing, Mr. Trump brandished an illustration of the storm’s path that had been altered with a thick black marker to include Alabama.—
Camille Baker,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near impenetrable
Cite this Entry
“Impenetrable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impenetrable. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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