1
as in dense
impossible to get through or into
the ancient temple was surrounded by vast stretches of impenetrable jungle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Achilles grew up to be the greatest warrior of his age, his armor impenetrable, his enemies routed.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 May 2026
Tall, impenetrable, like the Whitfields themselves.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
The building of the case is well done but what’s most memorable is the impenetrable brick wall of denial constructed by Shirilla’s family and friends in the face of that evidence.
—Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
When faced with a unified, impenetrable front that raises the geopolitical costs of his disruption, Trump simply moves on.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 May 2026
Tall, impenetrable, like the Whitfields themselves.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
The building of the case is well done but what’s most memorable is the impenetrable brick wall of denial constructed by Shirilla’s family and friends in the face of that evidence.
—Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
When faced with a unified, impenetrable front that raises the geopolitical costs of his disruption, Trump simply moves on.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impenetrable
Adjective
-
Set in a quiet residential neighborhood, this intimate beachfront property (whose name mixes the owners’ first initials with the Dutch word for oasis) uses dense, vibrant landscaping and shutters and stone walls between guest rooms to create a cocooning feeling of privacy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The installation, Unheimlich Manöver, 2007, consists of the entire contents of Liden’s former three-hundred-square-foot apartment in Stockholm, organized into a dense rectilinear mass as if placed in storage.—
Erika Landström,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Exciting discoveries await with the opening of various mysterious pristine boxes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The film stars Alan Ritchson, who is likely to return for the sequel, and follows the final recruits of a grueling Special Ops boot camp who encounter a mysterious deadly force.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Europeans, Bennett notes, find this genuinely incomprehensible.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
-
Ashly's death is an incomprehensible tragedy.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Long an astute observer of discovery and rediscovery, whether the subject is a city or herself, Sante—having emerged from a tight circle of luminaries including Jim Jarmusch, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Nan Goldin—is now on the precipice of a second artistic renaissance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
By greatly expanding the dimensions of his images, with their muted palettes, tight cropping, found symmetries, and laconic wit, had the maestro of the photographic epigram betrayed his subtractive aesthetic?—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
From a tactical standpoint, the fort is unlikely to deter Hezbollah’s new crop of attack drones, which rely on fiber-optic cables and are impervious to jamming.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
This proposal involves extremely large impervious surfaces, roofing, pavement, truck courts, loading areas, and supporting infrastructure.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Although Suki Waterhouse did confirm that she is set to attend, most of the couple's friends have been very cryptic about the status of their wedding invites.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
3 June 2026
-
Coaches and teammates have struggled to remain in contact with him, and AIyuk’s rare social media posts have been both cryptic and lacking clues about his football ambitions.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Death penalty states generally allow last statements from the execution chamber, but Texas catalogs the prisoners’ last words online, except for vulgar and racist language or what sounds unintelligible.—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
20 May 2026
-
The man responded, but his words are unintelligible in the recording.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Dry waterproofing technology, which is basically like an invisible, impermeable sock liner.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
-
The spongy material is mostly made of air, yet nearly impermeable to both air and liquid.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impenetrable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impenetrable. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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