1
as in dense
impossible to get through or into
the ancient temple was surrounded by vast stretches of impenetrable jungle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in incomprehensible
impossible to understand
the textbook's language is completely impenetrable, at least to me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 impenetrable
In any case, Bennett warned that tensions simmering from within the seemingly impenetrable fortress of North Korea could propel Kim toward more radical actions.
—
Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Her father is also a fan of sexy suiting, pairing statement diamond necklaces with waistcoats, and impenetrable shades.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2025
Cisco, then the leading supplier of equipment that served as the plumbing for the internet, was thought to have impenetrable margins and a certain roadmap for meteoric growth, and briefly became the most valuable company in the world.
—Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
The reviews tended to be long and sometimes impenetrable, but people paid attention to the numbers.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Her father is also a fan of sexy suiting, pairing statement diamond necklaces with waistcoats, and impenetrable shades.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2025
Cisco, then the leading supplier of equipment that served as the plumbing for the internet, was thought to have impenetrable margins and a certain roadmap for meteoric growth, and briefly became the most valuable company in the world.
—Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
The reviews tended to be long and sometimes impenetrable, but people paid attention to the numbers.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impenetrable
Adjective
-
Goldens typically have longer, wavier coats, while Labs have shorter, dense double coats.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Available in just about every color of the rainbow, the flower heads range from tight buttons and dense domes to soft, feathery blooms.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
With the head of the Demon Corps in danger, Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to the headquarters but are plunged into a deep descent to a mysterious space by the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Beyond this, the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton X-Ray observatory also studied this spiral galaxy repeatedly and found mysterious regions known as ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs).—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In fact, the movie isn’t really scary at all — just extremely weird, as well as increasingly incomprehensible toward the end.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Then there’s an incomprehensible scene in which Stuhlbarg’s Frederik storms in and out of the kitchen angrily, having turned his music up to an unlistenable volume, while Alma and Maggie—a guest in their home that evening—try to have a serious conversation.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Credit spreads are at their tightest in about 20 years, meaning there is little difference in yields between corporate bonds compared to government bonds.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The project, created under tight deadlines and with hobby-grade parts, is now on track for wider military use.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Various groups develop impervious boundaries, neutralizing the effectiveness of people who have to interact across them.—
Carol Kinsey Goman,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Modern American popular culture contains many jocular characters that resemble this folkloric bird, who is delightfully impervious to pain, from cartoon characters such as the Road Runner – an actual bird – to the foulmouthed, self-regenerating antihero Deadpool.—
Perin Gürel,
The Conversation,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
These fish, known for their cryptic behavior, were identified as a neonative species, expanding their range naturally.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Ars reached out to Google for an explanation, receiving a cryptic and somewhat unsatisfying reply.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
However, audio quality can make or break social media content and while some people can tolerate less-than-perfect video, poor and unintelligible sound often has audiences swiping left.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
-
Airports and airplanes do not have a monopoly on unintelligible announcements.—
Michel A. Ibrahim,
Baltimore Sun,
22 June 2025
Adjective
-
The polished sateen set boasts a thick border in six color combinations to wake up a bedroom.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
10 Sep. 2025
-
To serve, top with thick, creamy Greek yogurt and vibrant fruits of choice, like raspberries, mangoes and blueberries.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impenetrable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impenetrable. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share