impassable

adjective

im·​pass·​able (ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-bəl How to pronounce impassable (audio)
variants or less commonly impassible
: incapable of being passed, traveled, crossed, or surmounted
impassability noun
impassableness noun
impassably adverb

Examples of impassable in a Sentence

The roads were made impassable by the flood. the road was impassable until snowplows cleared it
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The storms rendered some roads impassable, damaged buildings and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. Joe Hernandez, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025 In Southern California, intense rainfall triggered large debris flows, making several streets impassable, including Mulholland Drive in Santa Monica and several roads in the Palisades. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025 Some low-water crossings may become impassable. Bay Area Weather Report, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025 The warnings have also prompted multiple highway closures in the area, with the department warning that roads could become impassable and that there was water already on some roads. Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impassable

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impassable was in 1562

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Cite this Entry

“Impassable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impassable. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

impassable

adjective
im·​pass·​able (ˈ)im-ˈpas-ə-bəl How to pronounce impassable (audio)
: impossible to pass, cross, or travel over
roads made impassable by the hurricane
impassability noun

More from Merriam-Webster on impassable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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