Impenetrability: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe something that cannot be penetrated, often referring to physical barriers, dense materials, or complex ideas that are hard to understand.

• The impenetrability of the fortress made it impossible for the invaders to breach.
• The impenetrability of his arguments left his opponents confused.

Describes a pathway or route that cannot be crossed or traveled through, often due to natural obstacles or severe conditions.

• Heavy snowfall led to the impassability of the mountain roads.
• The dense forest added to the impassability of the trail.

Best used to describe something that is impossible to enter, understand, or get through. This term can apply to physical objects, complex ideas, or abstract concepts.

• The impenetrability of the fortress made it a safe haven for the king.
• The impenetrability of his argument left the audience confused.

This word is appropriate when discussing something that is hard to see, find, or understand, often because it is unknown or hidden. It can also refer to a state of not being well-known or famous.

• The village remained in obscurity for centuries, untouched by modern civilization.
• The song initially fell into obscurity, but later gained popularity through social media.

Used when referring to ideas, texts, or subjects that are difficult to understand and require specialized knowledge or deep thought. It often suggests intellectual complexity.

• The abstruseness of the philosopher's writings makes them hard to understand for most readers.
• The lecture was filled with abstruseness, leaving many students puzzled.