English Explanatory Dictionary

impenetrable

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Not penetrable.
  2. Opaque; obscure; not translucent or transparent.
  3. Incomprehensible; fathomless; inscrutable.
noun
  1. A person not openly given to friendship.

Pronunciation

/ɪmˈpɛnətɹəbəl/ /ɪmˈpɛnɪtɹəbəl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-impenetrable.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Usmaan (Middle river exports)-impenetrable.wav

Word forms

impenetrable inpenetrable impenetrables

Etymology

From Middle English inpenetrabel, inpenetrabyle, from Middle French impenetrable or directly from its etymon, Latin impenetrābilis. By surface analysis, im- + penetrable.

Synonyms

impermeable impregnable unfathomable abstruse Chinese dense enigmatic fathomless Greek inapprehensible incognizable incomprehensible ineffable inenubilable inexplicable impenetrable insensible inscrutable insoluble insolvable mysterious nonunderstandable obscure retruse tenebrose thick undecipherable undiscoverable unexplainable ungraspable unintelligible unknowable ununderstandable

Antonyms

penetrable permeable pregnable fathomable apprehensible clear limpid comprehensible explainable explicable explicatable graspable illuminable intelligible lucid pellucid perspicuous straightforward tangible understandable

Derived words

impenetrableness impenetrably
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