impassable

adjective

(ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-bəl How to pronounce impassable (audio)
variants also impassible
Definition of impassablenext
as in dense
impossible to get through or into the road was impassable until snowplows cleared it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of impassable Duneland schools remain closed due to outages throughout its buildings, numerous impassable roads and downed power lines throughout the community, according to the district website. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 Through parts of the rainy season, Kio couldn’t be followed by the crew as the plains in the Maasai Mara became impassable. — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026 Portage Mayor Austin Bonta signed a declaration of emergency and said roads were impassable Tuesday. — Selina Guevara, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2026 Regardless, numerous roads remain flooded and impassible, including East Pine Street, Riverside Drive, Westfield Road, and Welcome Baptist Church Road. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for impassable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impassable
  1. dense
  2. close
  3. impervious
  4. impenetrable
  5. impermeable
  6. impregnable
  7. frozen
  8. thick
Adjective
  • Autumn Joy Stonecrop Also called autumn joy sedum, this hardy, summer- and fall-flowering perennial is known for its succulent foliage and dense clusters of tiny pink flowers.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
  • There was less consensus about the dust kicked up from the playa, which can be dense enough to cause whiteouts.
    — Henry Alford, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of dense
Adjective
  • California Cruise is even closer than expected, with deliveries slated to begin next year.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The success of this trial was possible through the close and constructive cooperation between the participating German Air Force organisations, the exercise management team and the expert teams from Rheinmetall Air Defence and Hensoldt.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of close
Adjective
  • This brand makes impervious base layers with a chemical-free blend of nylon and lycra.
    — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026
  • To deal with the settling, Peters and his team developed flexible flooring lined with an impervious three-ply fabric.
    — Jennifer Tucker, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of impervious
Adjective
  • Child safety experts lauded the settlement and the accompanying pressure campaign as a giant leap forward in the effort to regulate an industry that until this year appeared all but impenetrable to reform, either from the courts or legislatures.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The space offers guests a rare glimpse into a facet of Japanese nightlife that can feel impenetrable to outsiders.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of impenetrable
Adjective
  • State officials estimated the costs at $4,100 per acre of paved or impermeable surface for those that decide to help fund local stormwater projects, and said the costs for other options could be considerably higher.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • Spain needed until the 106th minute to slip a Ferran Torres shot past the impermeable goalkeeping of Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez, whose championship-game record 11 saves proved one too few.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of impermeable
Adjective
  • Dropped catches from Steve Smith, Green and Travis Head ensured yesterday's brief rally in the field fizzled out and allowed Bangladesh to bat itself into an almost impregnable position.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The shell of a good- sized adult abalone is more or less impregnable to most of the kelp forest’s predators, too strong and too thick for penetration.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 July 2026
Definition of impregnable
Adjective
  • Each client receives a heavy box of goods including fresh produce, frozen food, USDA shelf-stable goods and eggs or dairy products.
    — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The frozen landscape of Antarctica is holding a dangerous metal.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of frozen
Adjective
  • Even during the rut, Infalt shoots most of his mature bucks in the thick stuff near where deer sleep.
    — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The evidence suggests that back then a thicker, ancient atmosphere sheltered flowing streams and sparkling lakes.
    — Ashwin R. Vasavada, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of thick

Browse Nearby Words

impart (to)
impassable
impasse
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Impassable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impassable. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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