impassable

adjective

im·​pass·​able (ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-bəl 

variants or less commonly impassible

: incapable of being passed, traveled, crossed, or surmounted

impassability

(ˌ)im-ˌpa-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

impassableness

(ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-bəl-nəs 

noun

impassably

(ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• impenetrable
• impermeable
• impervious
• impregnable

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

Yet these stories, in which class divisions form impassable rifts and submission to the status quo comes at great psychic cost, have much to say about our contemporary reality. —Camille Bromley, New York Times, 17 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

What are the alternatives when first responders are unable to leave their homes or roads become impassable due to floods, fire, or ice? —Josh Klein, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2025

Authorities warn of potential power outages, impassable roads, and school closures as the storm progresses. —Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for impassable

• passable
• impassible
• irascible
• unsurpassable

Kids Definition

impassable

adjective

im·​pass·​able (ˈ)im-ˈpas-ə-bəl 

: impossible to pass, cross, or travel over

roads made impassable by the hurricane

impassability

(ˌ)im-ˌpas-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun