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impenetrably

impenetrably

1 8.9
Impossible to go through or understand
  • adverb
  • /ɪmˈpɛnɪtrəbli/
translation icon : impenetrablemente
  • Unfortunately, you sometimes use that misunderstanding as a jumping point to be impenetrably obtuse.
  • impenetrably dark
  • impenetrably black

Examples

  • And anyway, they will have become impenetrably quiet and regretful.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • As the '80s faded into the past, Prince followed his muse straight off the charts, culminating in a series of impenetrably "spiritual" jazz-fusion records.

    Blog text (17)
  • And I know they went through so much trouble to make it completely and utterly impenetrably dark in here, but let's not do this again.

  • From the depths of a warm, impenetrably dark sea, Harry sensed himself rise.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Better: the invention of metaphysics blew his mind, the idea that everyone experiences life solely, uniquely, impenetrably from their own point of view.

  • Plainview is also impenetrably amoral, a man of few sympathies, and consequently the viewer has none in return for his character.

    Blog text (25)
  • In the morning, the Swahili island's possibilities had retreated behind its impenetrably quaint historic facade, and she was a typical tourist again.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Often the lights are too murky or they come from the side, leaving half a face in impenetrably deep shadows; eye sockets become blank inky caverns.

    Blog text (1)
  • It was so late at night that the forest became impenetrably dark, making it hard to see anything.

  • When the storm hit, the sky turned impenetrably dark, blocking out the stars.

Synonyms

incomprehensibly
vsimpenetrably
2 8.0

It is very hard to understand

also applies to physical barriers not only things being hard to understand
inscrutably
vsimpenetrably
1 9.6

In a way that hides what someone feels and is hard to understand

is about physical or total lack of access rather than mystery
indecipherably
vsimpenetrably
8.5

So unclear that people cannot read or understand it

also describes physical barriers rather than only being hard to read or understand
imperviously
vsimpenetrably
8.2

In a way that does not let anything pass through or affect it

also refers to being mentally unknowable as well as physical blocking
impassably
vsimpenetrably
8.1

So blocked or dangerous that nothing can pass through

also covers things people cannot understand as well as being impossible to cross
impregnably
vsimpenetrably
9.9

In a way that no one can defeat or capture

also refers to simple inability to enter or understand rather than only resisting attack
inaccessibly
vsimpenetrably
8.1

So hard to reach that few people can get to it

also covers inability to be understood and not only physical difficulty to reach

Antonyms

881 1.0

In a way that is easy to see, hear, or understand

In a clear way people can easily understand

How Penetrable

opaquely
1 8.0
impenetrably
1 8.9

Surface Forms

impenetrably positive

Morphology

impenetrably = impenetrable (transparent) = im + penetrate + able + ly

Formed by adding the adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'impenetrable', a standard and predictable derivation.

Etymology

Impenetrably starts with im- meaning 'not' and the part penetrate meaning 'to go into', so think of a wall or thick fog you cannot get through. That's why something described as impenetrably is 'not able to be entered or understood', like a very hard book or a valley full of fog.