impenetrable

/ɪmˈpenɪtrəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪmˈpenɪtrəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)im-ˈpe-nə-trə-bəl/ (ame, mw)

impenetrable — adjective

  • impenetrablepositive
  • more impenetrablecomparative
  • most impenetrablesuperlative

1. describing something that is so solid, thick, or dense that nothing can pass int

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describing something that is so solid, thick, or dense that nothing can pass into or through it — for example, a forest so crowded with trees that you cannot walk inside, or a material that blocks all light.

例句

The hiker could not find a way through the impenetrable jungle.

collocation: impenetrable jungle / impenetrable forest

A thick layer of fog made the road ahead completely impenetrable to drivers.

pattern: impenetrable + to + noun (blocking passage for)

同義詞
  • impassable

    focuses on routes/paths being blocked; less suitable for walls or darkness

  • dense

    less extreme; describes thickness without the sense of total blockage

  • solid

    everyday word for firmness; lacks the dramatic force of 'impenetrable'

反義詞

文法句型

be + impenetrable + to + noun

impenetrable + noun

用法筆記

Often describes natural barriers (forests, fog, darkness) or man-made defenses (walls, armor). Can be followed by 'to' to specify what is being blocked.

常見錯誤

❌The forest was impenetrable to walk through.
✅The forest was impenetrable.' or 'It was impossible to walk through the impenetrable forest.
💡'impenetrable' already means you cannot go through; adding 'to walk through' is redundant.

2. describing information, speech, writing, or ideas that are so complex or confusi

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describing information, speech, writing, or ideas that are so complex or confusing that you cannot make sense of them — for example, a legal contract full of difficult terms, or a theory that only experts can follow.

例句

The professor's explanation was so impenetrable that most students left confused.

Anya found the legal document completely impenetrable, even after reading it twice.

pattern: find something + impenetrable

同義詞
  • incomprehensible

    very similar strength; slightly more formal

  • unfathomable

    suggests something too deep or mysterious to grasp

  • opaque

    metaphorical use; suggests meaning is hidden or unclear

反義詞

文法句型

be + impenetrable + to + noun

find + noun + impenetrable

用法筆記

Common in academic and professional contexts. Often describes specialized writing, technical explanations, or complex theories that are hard for non-experts to follow.

常見錯誤

❌This book is impenetrable to understand.
✅This book is impenetrable.
💡adding 'to understand' is redundant because 'impenetrable' already means impossible to understand.