impassable

adjective

im·​pass·​able (ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-bəl How to pronounce impassable (audio)
variants or less commonly impassible
: incapable of being passed, traveled, crossed, or surmounted
impassability noun
impassableness noun
impassably adverb

Examples of impassable in a Sentence

The roads were made impassable by the flood. the road was impassable until snowplows cleared it
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
On the Tibetan side of Everest, ticket sales had been suspended since Tuesday afternoon as roads turned icy and visibility plunged, creating impassable conditions for vehicular traffic, according to the tourism department of Tingri county. Reuters, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025 And because so many roads are impassable, damage assessment was only just beginning this evening after a devastating direct hit from Melissa. Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025 Apart from the brief cease-fire periods, the Israeli government also tightly controlled the internal movements of aid organizations within Gaza and frequently rejected movement requests or directed convoys through insecure or impassable areas. Jeremy Konyndyk, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2025 After all, his introduction of cable cars had fueled the city’s expansion southward, connecting residents, through and over hills once considered impassable, to their places of employment and giving rise to many of Kansas City’s historic neighborhoods. Michael Wells, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impassable

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impassable was in 1562

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Cite this Entry

“Impassable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impassable. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

impassable

adjective
im·​pass·​able (ˈ)im-ˈpas-ə-bəl How to pronounce impassable (audio)
: impossible to pass, cross, or travel over
roads made impassable by the hurricane
impassability noun

More from Merriam-Webster on impassable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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