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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impenetrable
The Atelier series has always been quite dense and somewhat impenetrable for new players, but the Ryza subseries does its best to be approachable for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
—
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Sure, the misguided invention is another ding to Jesse’s ego, but that armor is all but impenetrable by now, as is his status as leader of the family’s (hugely profitable) church.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
Samples with microbes ended up in one chamber, the L-serine in the other, and the barrier, formed using a gel, was formulated to be permeable to microbes but impenetrable by abiotic particles.
—Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025
The Jaguar rebrand is either a bold vision of the future or an impenetrable word salad.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Sure, the misguided invention is another ding to Jesse’s ego, but that armor is all but impenetrable by now, as is his status as leader of the family’s (hugely profitable) church.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
Samples with microbes ended up in one chamber, the L-serine in the other, and the barrier, formed using a gel, was formulated to be permeable to microbes but impenetrable by abiotic particles.
—Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025
The Jaguar rebrand is either a bold vision of the future or an impenetrable word salad.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impenetrable
Adjective
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This layer also contains Earth’s oceanic crust — a thinner and denser layer below the oceans — and the continental crust that sits above this layer.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
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The good news As solar cycle 25 is set to weaken soon, the high-energy proton soup around the planet will soon get denser again.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Some people are already well aware of Norse Atlantic, despite the company’s somewhat mysterious profile.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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She's just been visited by a mysterious mate named Donnie, who claims to be a friend of Harry's.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Researching feels incomprehensible or inapplicable, especially as a business owner.—
Bree Manay,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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The answer may not be satisfying, but maybe that’s the point: the crime was always going to be incomprehensible.—
Bailey Seybolt,
People.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Some regulators might see stablecoins as competition to or complementary with CBDCs, leading to either tighter restrictions or new forms of partnership.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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There’s no tighter part of the property for patrons than Amen Corner, tens of thousands pressed together to watch as McIlroy’s ball flew through the air once, then twice.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Such a war would be motivated, in China, by a politics of identity that is largely impervious to economic rationality and other strategic considerations.—
RANA MITTER,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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For years, decades even, that faux feline impervious to the rain was my secret excuse.—
Domenico Starnone,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to ‘find the accountant,’ Wolff is compelled to solve the case.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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Despite the cryptic message, many fans figured out where to find the singer and showed up in droves, forcing Lorde to initially cancel her appearance.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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From our review: Khan’s lack of screen presence, toothless mixed martial arts sequences and unintelligible editing further knock the film down.—
The New York Times,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
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The rest of the freestyle was unintelligible, and it was not shot well, either.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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These Steve Madden platform sneakers feature thick, cushioned soles that provide extra height without sacrificing comfort.—
Jené Luciani Sena,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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The first is the pomodoro, a thick, fluffy pan-pizza smeared with sugo di pomodoro, a rich red sauce with a deep tomato flavor that tastes like it’s been reducing for hours.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impenetrable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impenetrable. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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