impregnable
/im'prəgnəbl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Incapable of being overcome, challenged, or refuted: Describes something so strong, valid, or well-founded that it cannot be defeated, disproven, or successfully argued against.
- Immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with or captured: Describes a place, system, or position that is so strongly fortified or defended that it cannot be breached or taken by force.
- (Less common) Capable of conceiving or being fertilized: A technical or biological sense referring to an egg or female that can be made pregnant.
Usage and Examples
- Describing an argument or belief:
- The lawyer presented an impregnable case, leaving no room for doubt.
- Her faith in the project's success was impregnable, despite the setbacks.
- Describing a fortress or defense:
- The castle was built on an impregnable cliff, safe from any invasion.
- Their cybersecurity system was considered impregnable by experts.
- Describing biological capability (technical):
- The study focused on making the egg impregnable for a longer period.
Advanced Usage
- Figurative use for abstract concepts: Often used to describe non-physical things like confidence, logic, or a position of power, implying they are unassailable.
- He maintained an impregnable calm throughout the crisis.
- "Impregnable to": Used to specify what cannot affect or breach the subject.
- The server's encryption made it impregnable to hackers.
- Her resolve was impregnable to criticism.
Variants and Related Words
- Impregnability (noun): The quality of being impregnable.
- The impregnability of their defense was legendary.
- Impregnate (verb): A different but related word meaning to fertilize or saturate. CRITICAL NOTE: This is a distinct word, not a variant of "impregnable" in the "secure" sense.
- The soil was impregnated with nutrients.
Synonyms
- Unassailable: Cannot be attacked, questioned, or defeated.
- Invulnerable: Impossible to harm or damage.
- Inviolable: Never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored.
- Impregnable vs. Unconquerable: "Unconquerable" more often refers to spirit or territory that cannot be subdued, while "impregnable" emphasizes being unable to be breached or successfully attacked.
Antonyms
- Vulnerable: Susceptible to physical or emotional harm or attack.
- Assailable: Open to attack or criticism.
- Weak: Lacking the power to withstand attack or strain.
Idioms and Common Phrases
- An impregnable fortress: A common phrase used both literally for a physical stronghold and figuratively for an unshakeable position or belief.
- His academic reputation was an impregnable fortress.
- To render something impregnable: To make something secure against all attacks or challenges.
- The new evidence rendered their legal position impregnable.
Adjective
- incapable of being overcome, challenged or refuted
- an impregnable argument
- impregnable self-confidence
- capable of conceiving
- immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with
- an impregnable fortress
- fortifications that made the frontier inviolable
- a secure telephone connection