impenetrable
pronunciation
How to pronounce impenetrable in British English:
UK [ɪmˈpenɪtrəbl]
How to pronounce impenetrable in American English:
US [ɪmˈpenɪtrəbl]
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- Adjective:
- not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
- permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
- impossible to understand
Word Origin
- impenetrable (adj.)
- mid-15c., from Middle French impenetrable, from Latin impenetrabilis "that cannot be penetrated," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + penetrabilis "penetrable" (see penetrate). Related: Impenetrably; impenetrability.
Synonym
Example
- 1. The chamber 's impenetrable procedures tend to deflect even the sharpest of spears .
- 2. But bureaucratic obfuscation , impenetrable accounting and a dose of serial denial make getting an answer difficult .
- 3. Life is impenetrable , ridiculous and nonsense .
- 4. Here , blonde morphs into steely resolve and impenetrable intellect .
- 5. Only a snag down the knee of her tights leavens her impenetrable neatness .