impervious
Americanadjective
-
not permitting penetration or passage; impenetrable.
The coat is impervious to rain.
-
incapable of being injured or impaired.
impervious to wear and tear.
-
incapable of being influenced, persuaded, or affected.
impervious to reason; impervious to another's suffering.
- Synonyms:
- closed, invulnerable
adjective
-
not able to be penetrated, as by water, light, etc; impermeable
-
not able to be influenced (by) or not receptive (to)
impervious to argument
Other Word Forms
- imperviously adverb
- imperviousness noun
Etymology
Origin of impervious
From the Latin word impervius, dating back to 1640–50. See im- 2, pervious
Compare meaning
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Recent raids may try to instill fear, but this special communal space feels impervious to such weak displays.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026
I confess I’m not impervious to the posthumous allure.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026
He then pivoted to defend his economic strategy against fears of a market downturn, portraying the U.S. as impervious to pressure.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025
But the president seems impervious to this volley of verbal attacks.
From BBC • May 13, 2025
Whatever emanations may seep from them at night, he will be impervious to them.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
