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impregnable

impregnable

10 7.9
Too strong and well protected for anyone to capture or defeat
  • adjective
  • /ɪmˈprɛɡnəbl/
translation icon : inexpugnable
  • The castle was built with thick walls, making it impregnable to enemy attacks.
  • seemingly impregnable

Examples

  • No doubt her capital was now safely deposited in the impregnable vaults of the Bank of England.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I can assure you, sir, that the place is now an impregnable fortress.

  • OK, so in here we will find an impregnable box.

  • This Mountain of Power where he lives is said to be impregnable.

  • The operations room is quite impregnable.

  • We have driven through their supposedly impregnable wall in northern France.

  • It's a stunning example of architectural engineering at altitude, and completely impregnable.

  • With only one approach to defend, tremendous care had been lavished on making the place impregnable.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Moreover, the inaccessible terrain continues to make the region an impregnable base in which to hide, train, and launch attacks.

    Academic text (2011)
  • If Por-Bajin was a fortress, these ruins suggest it would have been nearly impregnable.

    Academic text (2010)

Synonyms

invincible
vsimpregnable
92 6.5

Too strong to be defeated

also protects against attack and physical harm as well as victory
indestructible
vsimpregnable
34 5.3

Very hard to break or damage

stresses resisting capture and defeat as well as avoiding physical destruction
unbeatable
vsimpregnable
30 3.4

Very hard to beat in a contest, like a team or player

is stronger implying full immunity to attack and harm rather than near invincibility
unbreakable
vsimpregnable
25 2.7

Very strong and hard to damage in normal use

also implies resisting attack and capture, not only physical endurance
invulnerable
vsimpregnable
22 7.7

Not able to be harmed by attack or criticism

includes resisting capture and defeat as well as avoiding physical harm
impenetrable
vsimpregnable
19 7.3

Not possible to enter or go through

is broader covering resistance to attack and harm rather than only a barrier
unassailable
vsimpregnable
11 8.0

So strong that no one can attack, defeat, or prove it wrong

focuses more on physical resistance to attack and harm instead of challenge
unconquerable
vsimpregnable
4 7.3

Too strong for anyone to defeat

also prevents attack and physical harm, not merely avoiding defeat
insuperable
vsimpregnable
  • Formal
2 9.1

So hard that no one can get past it

applies to people or places resisting attack and harm not just difficulties
undefeatable
vsimpregnable
2 4.9

Too strong for anyone to beat

also resists attack and physical harm, not only being unbeaten
unkillable
vsimpregnable
1 6.7

Very hard to stop or destroy

is about being safe from capture or defeat as much as survival
ineradicable
vsimpregnable
1 8.8

Not possible to remove completely

focuses on resisting attack and harm rather than mere permanent persistence
unvanquishable
vsimpregnable
9.9

Cannot be defeated

is about resisting capture and harm as well as defeat
inexpugnable
vsimpregnable
9.9

No one can beat or prove it wrong

also defends against attack and physical harm rather than only argument
unattackable
vsimpregnable
8.6

Others cannot attack or harm it

also cannot be captured or defeated, not only safe from attack
inextirpable
vsimpregnable
9.9

Too hard to get rid of completely, like deep roots that keep growing

is about resisting capture or harm rather than lasting survival or persistence
undestroyable
vsimpregnable
8.2

Not able to be broken or damaged

is more about resisting capture and attack rather than only surviving damage
uncrushable
vsimpregnable
6.1

Not easily discouraged or defeated

focuses on physical attack and harm resistance rather than emotional toughness
resistless
vsimpregnable
9.9

Too strong to stop or fight against

is about being immune to attack rather than causing attraction or desire

Antonyms

581 4.0

At risk of being harmed, attacked or influenced

Compounds

A defense that cannot be broken or defeated

A heart that cannot be hurt or moved by feelings

How Defensible

impregnable
10 7.9
secure
  • Specialized
31 4.7
fortified
5.1
defensible
19 5.5
vulnerable
581 4.0
defenseless
  • US
77 3.5

Surface Forms

impregnable positive

Morphology

impregnable = pregnable (semi-transparent) = im + pregnable

The negative prefix 'im-' is clear to learners, but the base 'pregnable' (and its root 'pregn-') is obscure, so the overall derivation is not fully transparent.

Etymology

Impregnable breaks into im- meaning 'not' and pregnable meaning 'able to be taken', so it literally meant 'not able to be taken'. Think of a castle so strong no one can enter or defeat it, which is why impregnable today means impossible to capture, defeat, or overcome.