adj
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impervious
ihm-PUR-vee-uhs
Impervious (adj) means not affected or bothered by something, such as criticism or emotion. Example: “He seemed impervious to the harsh reviews of his book.”
adj
1
Not affected or bothered by something, such as criticism or emotion.
"He seemed impervious to the harsh reviews of his book."
"She stayed impervious to their taunts and kept working."
2
Not allowing anything, especially liquid, to pass through.
"The coating makes the fabric impervious to rain."
How to use impervious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnaffected by something, or physically unable to be penetrated by it.
Common pairings
impervious to criticism
impervious to water
impervious surface
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more impervious
- Superlative
- most impervious
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He seemed _____ to the harsh reviews of his book.
Etymology
From Latin impervius, "that cannot be passed through," from in- ("not") + pervius ("passable").
Synonyms
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imperviable
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for impervious
See all rhymes for impervious →Frequently asked questions
What does “impervious” mean?
The word “impervious” means not affected or bothered by something, such as criticism or emotion. In plain terms, unaffected by something, or physically unable to be penetrated by it.
How do you pronounce “impervious”?
“Impervious” is pronounced ihm-PUR-vee-uhs (/ɪmˈpɝ.vi.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “impervious” in a sentence?
Here is “impervious” used in a sentence: “He seemed impervious to the harsh reviews of his book.”
What is the opposite of “impervious”?
The opposite of “impervious” — its antonyms — is pervious.
What part of speech is “impervious”?
“Impervious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “impervious” come from?
The word “impervious” comes from Latin. From Latin impervius, "that cannot be passed through," from in- ("not") + pervius ("passable").
How many meanings does “impervious” have?
“Impervious” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not affected or bothered by something, such as criticism or emotion.
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