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
If Derek Jeter invented the strategy of preemptive blandness, a verbal jiu-jitsu move that cloaks every utterance in a gauze of impenetrable nothingness, Tom Brady has earned a Vantablack® belt in the discipline.
—
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 5 Feb. 2025
This all gave the nearly four-hour ceremony an air of impenetrable seriousness.
—Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2025
In this archetype, the leader is a stoic force—strong, steady, and impenetrable.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
His manifesto, dismissed in the 1990s as impenetrable, is now the subject of YouTube videos drawing millions of views apiece.
—Charles Homans, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 5 Feb. 2025
This all gave the nearly four-hour ceremony an air of impenetrable seriousness.
—Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2025
In this archetype, the leader is a stoic force—strong, steady, and impenetrable.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
His manifesto, dismissed in the 1990s as impenetrable, is now the subject of YouTube videos drawing millions of views apiece.
—Charles Homans, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impenetrable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impenetrable
Adjective
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Select plants with dense habits and thick cover to outcompete weeds that germinate in these border plantings.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Down the line, astronomers may need to adjust their models to account for the possibility of rapid galaxy growth under such dense conditions.—
Larissa G. Capella,
Space.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The first season saw Charles eventually wrap the case and leave the nursing home to return to his life, but ended with the PI calling him again to seek his help on a mysterious new case.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Despite Shauna trying to blame her for all the mysterious things happening to her in season 3, Melissa says that Shauna is the problem, the real anti-hero, so to speak.—
Stacy Lambe,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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When technology changes so quickly that even Millennials are shaking their heads at Gen Z’s incomprehensible habits, what chance do ageing parents have to stay a step ahead of their kids?—
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Even though arrests have been made, first-degree murder charges have been filed and the victim laid to rest, this case remains an incomprehensible display of human malice.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC News,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This stretch can worsen pain in people with back pain, very tight hamstrings, or irritable nerves.—
Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CHT,
Verywell Health,
4 Apr. 2025
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The following are the three main types to choose from: Small cat trees are affordable and ideal for tight living quarters.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The effect was to view non-European peoples as constitutionally bound by custom, impervious to progress, and inscrutable to the Western mind.—
Zachariah Mampilly,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Apr. 2025
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But this isn’t a self-help column, or a prescription for better (or impervious) living.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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And this looks to have that signature Souls flavor both in terms of combat and cryptic storytelling.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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The note features a cryptic math puzzle that, when solved correctly using a unique personal identifier, reveals the phone number of the person who found the wallet.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 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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This beautiful Easter garland, on sale for $79.99 at Wayfair, is opulent and thick with twigs and pastel eggs that run throughout.—
Nora Colomer,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Twangy bass lines thick enough to saw down a redwood tree are shredded with shivers of electric guitar to create a blues sound that cuts a hole straight through the decades.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impenetrable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impenetrable. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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