impalpable

Examples

• All

• Although these beasts are described in very concrete, physical terms, they have an "impalpable" nature: they appear suddenly on Dante's path, and just as suddenly they disappear when Virgil rescues him; despite Dante's fear when he sees them coming towards him, they never actually assault or even touch him.

  Academic text (1991)

• The infinite white light in the dense, impalpable fog.

  Fiction book (1993)

• The openings in the house were quite secure, although the impalpable dust had managed to come in just the same.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Rory watched them transfigured once more into impalpable shapes.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Larissa felt the impalpable heartbeat of the earth, steady and perpetual.

  Fiction book (1992)

• "My point is that things exist which, though impalpable and unsusceptible to the testimony of our senses, are nevertheless capable of exerting an influence over us."

  Fiction book (2001)

• "We who believe that it is this intelligence that all have been given that commands man's first allegiance, that is too universal to be bribed, too impalpable to be forced, too effective to be ignored."

  Academic text (2002)

• Several critics find Deborah's conversion to Quakerism impalpable, seeing in the implicit Christian resolution a highly suspect ending to a story so powerfully grim.

  Academic text (1994)

• The artist's emotions were impalpable, leaving the viewers with an indescribable sense of connection.

• Her feelings of nostalgia were so impalpable that she could scarcely articulate them to her friends.

Synonyms

I

intangible

vsimpalpable

22 7.2

Something that cannot be touched and is often a feeling or quality

is about not being felt or noticed rather than lacking physical existence

I

imperceptible

vsimpalpable

9 7.8

Very small or slight and hard to notice

focuses on being untouchable or not felt rather than being merely slight

I

insubstantial

vsimpalpable

9 6.8

Not solid or strong and not filling

is about being untouchable or unnoticed rather than weak or flimsy

I

immaterial

vsimpalpable

4 7.4

Not physical and cannot be touched

focuses on being not easily perceived by senses rather than only lacking matter

I

imperceivable

vsimpalpable

8.4

Too small to be seen, heard, or noticed

is difficult to detect but can sometimes be noticed

U

unperceivable

vsimpalpable

9.1

Too small, slow, or quiet for people to notice

is less absolute and more about being hard to feel than impossible

Antonyms

P

palpable

45 6.1

A very strong feeling or atmosphere that you notice easily

P

perceptible

8 5.4

Able to be seen, heard, or noticed

T

tangible

1 3.9

A thing you can see or touch

How Perceptible

tangible

1 3.9

palpable

45 6.1

perceptible

8 5.4

faint

148 2.7

impalpable

1 9.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology