impervious

Pronunciation: im-PER-vee-us

adjective

Difficulty: intermediate

Definition of impervious

impervious (adjective): Unable to be penetrated or influenced, either physically (as by liquid or air) or emotionally; resistant to external effects or forces.

Example: Despite the harsh criticism from her peers, she remained impervious to their remarks, steadfast in her beliefs.

Best for: intermediate-difficulty vocabulary; learners who already know "resistant" or "immune"; GRE Verbal (Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence); SAT Reading & Writing (Words in Context).

Origin of impervious

Language of origin: Latin

Root word: impervius

Original meaning: not passable

How it evolved: Originally used to describe physical barriers, it evolved to include emotional and metaphorical senses of resistance.

Derived from Latin 'impervius', combining 'in-' (not) and 'pervius' (letting things pass through), referring to something that cannot be traversed or affected.

First known use: 1650s

How to Remember impervious

Think of 'impervious' as 'I'm-pervious' — 'I’m impervious, nothing can affect or penetrate me!' Picture a knight in shining armor deflecting everything effortlessly.

Synonyms for impervious

  • resistant
  • immune
  • impermeable
  • invulnerable
  • impenetrable
  • unaffected
  • unyielding
  • insensible

Antonyms of impervious

impervious in a Sentence

  1. Despite the harsh criticism from her peers, she remained impervious to their remarks, steadfast in her beliefs.
  2. The specialized coating on the spacecraft was impervious to the extreme temperatures and radiation of outer space.
  3. His confidence was impervious to failure, allowing him to persist in the face of adversity.

impervious in Literature & Culture

Impervious is a favorite term in literature to describe characters with strong moral fortitude or physical invulnerability, such as in Shakespearean plays or modern novels.

Usage Notes

Impervious is often used metaphorically to describe emotional or mental resilience, as well as literally to describe physical barriers. It should not be confused with impermeable, which is strictly physical.

Why impervious Matters for GRE & SAT

This word frequently appears on the GRE to test a student's ability to understand nuanced resistance, whether physical or metaphorical. Its synonyms and antonyms are key for vocabulary mastery on the exam.

Word Family

imperviously (adverb)
In a way that is resistant to influence or penetration.
imperviousness (noun)
The quality of being resistant to external influence or penetration.

Did You Know?

  • The word 'impervious' is often used in scientific contexts, such as describing materials that repel water or other substances.
  • The metaphorical use of 'impervious' to describe emotional resilience became popular in 19th-century literature.
  • In pop culture, superheroes like Superman are often described as impervious to harm.

More Vocabulary Words Starting with I

  • iconoclastic — challenging or overthrowing tradition or established beliefs
  • iconoclastic — challenging or overthrowing tradition or established beliefs
  • identify — To recognize or establish what something is
  • identify — To recognize or be able to name someone or something
  • identify — To recognize or be able to name someone or something
  • identify — To recognize or establish what something is
  • ideologue — a person who advocates an ideology
  • ideologue — a person who advocates an ideology
  • ideology — A system of ideas and ideals forming the basis of a theory
  • ideology — A system of ideas and ideals forming the basis of a theory