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

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 notes

In plain EnglishSo strong, secure, or well-defended that it can't be broken or beaten.

Common pairings

impregnable fortress impregnable defence impregnable lead

Word forms

more impregnable comparative, more impregnable comparative, most impregnable superlative, most impregnable superlative

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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.

Origin: Old French

Rhymes for impregnable

able fable cable table viable liable stable tenable parable affable amiable notable

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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.