Finesentence logo

Insurmountable: meaning, definitions and examples

🧗‍♂️
Add to dictionary

insurmountable

 

[ ɪnˌsɜːˈmaʊntəbl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

challenge

Incapable of being overcome or surmounted; insuperable. Something that is insurmountable cannot be conquered or passed over.

Synonyms

impassable, invincible, unconquerable

Examples of usage

  • The task of climbing Mount Everest seemed insurmountable to many.
  • The financial obstacles they faced appeared insurmountable.
  • Despite their best efforts, the team found the language barrier to be insurmountable.
Context #2 | Adjective

problem

Too great to be dealt with; overwhelming. Something that is insurmountable cannot be solved or dealt with effectively.

Synonyms

overwhelming, unbeatable, unmanageable

Examples of usage

  • The company was forced to close down due to insurmountable debt.
  • The complexity of the situation made it seem insurmountable to the inexperienced manager.
  • The challenges of starting a new business can sometimes feel insurmountable.

Translations

Translations of the word "insurmountable" in other languages:

🇵🇹 insuperável

🇮🇳 अपरिहार्य

🇩🇪 unüberwindbar

🇮🇩 tak teratasi

🇺🇦 нездоланний

🇵🇱 nie do pokonania

🇯🇵 克服できない

🇫🇷 insurmontable

🇪🇸 insuperable

🇹🇷 aşılmaz

🇰🇷 극복할 수 없는

🇸🇦 لا يذلل

🇨🇿 nepřekonatelný

🇸🇰 neprekonateľný

🇨🇳 不可逾越的

🇸🇮 nepremagljiv

🇮🇸 óyfirstíganlegur

🇰🇿 жеңілмейтін

🇬🇪 დაუძლეველი

🇦🇿 aşılmaz

🇲🇽 insuperable

Etymology

The word 'insurmountable' originated from the prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' or 'opposite of', and the word 'surmount' meaning 'to overcome'. The term first appeared in the English language in the early 17th century, used to describe obstacles or challenges that were deemed impossible to overcome. Over time, 'insurmountable' has maintained its meaning of something that cannot be conquered or surpassed.

See also: mount, mountain, mounted, mounting, surmount.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,998, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.