Impenetrable - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Impenetrable describes something that cannot be entered, passed through, or understood. It is often used for physical barriers like walls or dense forests, or abstract concepts like difficult texts.
Definition:
Impossible to pass through or enter; unable to be understood or solved.
Synonyms:
impervious, unyielding, inscrutable, dense
Part of Speech:
adjective
Antonyms:
penetrable, permeable, understandable
Common Collocations:
impenetrable forest, impenetrable barrier, impenetrable mystery, impenetrable defense
Derivatives:
impenetrability, impenetrably
Usage Tips:
Use "impenetrable" for physical barriers or abstract concepts like mysteries that resist understanding or entry.
Common Phrases:
impenetrable fortress, impenetrable darkness, impenetrable silence
Etymology:
From Latin *impenetrabilis*, combining *in-* (not) + *penetrabilis* (able to be pierced).
Examples:
- 1. The fortress was surrounded by an impenetrable wall.
- 2. Her expression remained impenetrable during the interrogation.
- 3. The jungle was so thick it seemed almost impenetrable.
- 4. The book’s complex theories were impenetrable to most readers.