impervious

[ im-pur-vee-uhs ]

adjective

1. not permitting penetration or passage; impenetrable:

   The coat is impervious to rain.

2. incapable of being injured or impaired:

   impervious to wear and tear.

3. incapable of being influenced, persuaded, or affected:

   impervious to reason; impervious to another's suffering.

   Synonyms: closed, invulnerable

impervious

/ ɪmˈpɜːvɪəs /

adjective

1. not able to be penetrated, as by water, light, etc; impermeable
2. often postpositivefoll byto not able to be influenced (by) or not receptive (to)

   impervious to argument

Derived Forms

• imˈperviously, adverb
• imˈperviousness, noun

Other Words From

• im·pervi·ous·ly adverb
• im·pervi·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of impervious¹

From the Latin word impervius, dating back to 1640–50. See im- ², pervious

Example Sentences

“We have to have a larger portion of our groundwater recharge coming from managing rainwater, in getting rid of impervious surfaces and letting it infiltrate,” Winter said.

From Los Angeles Times

Impervious sheets of plastic cannot provide this service.

From Los Angeles Times

Existing regulations, it says, are “ineffective, costly, opaque, and largely impervious to reform.”

From Los Angeles Times

Providence’s alleged actions suggest that state laws protecting abortion rights are not impervious — and that would especially be so if Republicans regain the White House and control of Congress in the coming election.

From Los Angeles Times

The building's imposing façade and domed turrets may make it seem as though the school is impervious to change, but today it’s in the crosshairs of the plans by the new Labour government to raise taxes on private schools.

From BBC

Related Words

• immune
• impassable
• impenetrable
• inaccessible
• invulnerable
• resistant
• unaffected
• unmoved