adj
impregnable
ihm-PREHG-nuh-bl
Impregnable (adj) means Too strong or well-defended to be captured, broken into, or defeated. Example: “The castle's thick walls made it seem impregnable.”
adj
1
Too strong or well-defended to be captured, broken into, or defeated.
"The castle's thick walls made it seem impregnable."
"Her lead in the polls looked impregnable until the final week of the campaign."
How to use impregnable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo strong, secure, or well-defended that it can't be broken or beaten.
Common pairings
impregnable fortress
impregnable defence
impregnable lead
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more impregnable
- Superlative
- most impregnable
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The castle's thick walls made it seem _____.
Etymology
From Old French imprenable, "impossible to capture," from im- + prenable ("takable," from prendre, "to take"). The "g" was added later by analogy with words like reign and deign.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for impregnable
See all rhymes for impregnable →Frequently asked questions
What does “impregnable” mean?
The word “impregnable” means too strong or well-defended to be captured, broken into, or defeated. In plain terms, so strong, secure, or well-defended that it can't be broken or beaten.
How do you pronounce “impregnable”?
“Impregnable” is pronounced ihm-PREHG-nuh-bl (/ɪmˈpɹɛɡ.nəˌb(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “impregnable” in a sentence?
Here is “impregnable” used in a sentence: “The castle's thick walls made it seem impregnable.”
What part of speech is “impregnable”?
“Impregnable” is an adjective.
Where does the word “impregnable” come from?
The word “impregnable” comes from Old French. From Old French imprenable, "impossible to capture," from im- + prenable ("takable," from prendre, "to take"). The "g" was added later by analogy with words like reign and deign.
