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
Dylan is simply a force of nature, bobbing on the impenetrable currents of his personal muse.
—
Scott Phillips, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
The Bookshelf The Bookshelf Katherine Howell The rise of a conspiracy-theorist Left, the vital front in the preservation of Western civilization, and Israel’s need for impenetrable defenses.
—Martha Bayles, National Review, 21 Nov. 2024
Alexis Lafrenière gathered the rebound and put it past the previously impenetrable Dustin Wolf.
—Peter Baugh, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
The fame afforded Sacks financial freedom, as well as more opportunities to tell the stories of people whose isolation had previously seemed impenetrable.
—Michael S. Roth, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for impenetrable 
Scott Phillips, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
The Bookshelf The Bookshelf Katherine Howell The rise of a conspiracy-theorist Left, the vital front in the preservation of Western civilization, and Israel’s need for impenetrable defenses.
—Martha Bayles, National Review, 21 Nov. 2024
Alexis Lafrenière gathered the rebound and put it past the previously impenetrable Dustin Wolf.
—Peter Baugh, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
The fame afforded Sacks financial freedom, as well as more opportunities to tell the stories of people whose isolation had previously seemed impenetrable.
—Michael S. Roth, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for impenetrable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impenetrable
Adjective
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The combination of environmental regulations protecting chaparral, combined with the dense residential areas near it, mean that prescribed fire is very infrequently used in Southern California.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN,
24 Jan. 2025
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But the visual jokes are dense and the look works for the setting and comedic ethos, reflecting the junky tourist-trap aesthetic that Mumolo and Wiig celebrate.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Several years later, Hoffa disappeared under mysterious circumstances and was never seen again.—
David Wharton,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2025
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The groundbreaking find, the researchers claim, could reshape our understanding of the universe and its most powerful and mysterious signals.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Because Lynch’s whole deal was about engagement — connection through friction, comprehension through acknowledging the incomprehensible world all around us, empathy by way of bridging the gap between disparate concepts.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
16 Jan. 2025
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The people who tend Altadena’s venerable deodar cedars have suffered incomprehensible community losses this week, but Santa Rosa Avenue, a.k.a.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The promise of creating 100,000 new jobs is ambitious but raises significant questions in an already tight AI and data center labor market.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Even if this shirt came in only one color, managing editor Erin Agostinelli would still love it with its stretchy body-hugging tight fit that's almost like wearing a bodysuit but without the commitment.—
Emily Hochberg,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The film is the studio’s best hope at fielding a billion-dollar blockbuster in 2025, but even the Man of Steel isn’t impervious to box office Kryptonite.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
17 Jan. 2025
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Anti-immigration narratives are impervious to facts.—
Dan Gooding,
Newsweek,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Then, a hacker breaks in, posts a cryptic message, and triggers Wentworth's expanding investigation into a global struggle over truth and information.—
Eric Berger,
Ars Technica,
16 Jan. 2025
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Both Trista and Ryan were in the news over the summer after Ryan posted cryptic messages on his Instagram account.—
Sara Vallone,
Miami Herald,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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According to Klippenstein, parts of the document are unintelligible due to Mangione's handwriting.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2024
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Instead, like 2022’s Smile, the end credits are accompanied by haunting unintelligible voices and sounds throughout.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes,
17 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Electric motors are dense hunks of metal, thus are heavy; power cables thick enough to carry the heavy electron flow needed to generate hundreds of horsepower are also not light.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
16 Jan. 2025
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Some of the cables he’s found are as thick as a pinky finger and, when attached to the right tree, are strong enough to anchor an elephant calf.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
16 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near impenetrable
Cite this Entry
“Impenetrable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impenetrable. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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