unbridgeable

Thân thiện

A wide, unbridgeable river flows through the deep canyon.

Definition

Adjective: - Impossible to bridge or cross: Describes a gap, difference, or separation that is too great to be connected, overcome, or reconciled. - Not capable of being spanned or made passable: Often used figuratively to describe profound and irreconcilable divisions between ideas, people, or groups.

Usage

The adjective "unbridgeable" is used to describe a chasm, divide, or difference that is absolute and cannot be closed. It emphasizes permanence and insurmountability. - It typically modifies nouns like "gap," "divide," "chasm," "difference," or "gulf." - It is often used in discussions about social, cultural, ideological, or generational conflicts.

Examples

• The ideological differences between the two political parties seemed unbridgeable.
• An unbridgeable gulf of misunderstanding had opened between the old friends.
• The report highlighted the unbridgeable divide in public opinion on the issue.
• For them, the cultural gap was unbridgeable.

Advanced Usage

• "An unbridgeable chasm": A very common collocation emphasizing a deep and impassable division.
  • The scandal created an unbridgeable chasm within the organization.
• "Render something unbridgeable": To cause a gap to become impossible to bridge.
  • The harsh words rendered the rift between them unbridgeable.

Variants and Related Words

• Bridgeable (adj): Capable of being bridged or reconciled. This is the direct antonym of "unbridgeable."
  • With compromise, the gap is bridgeable.
• Unbridgeably (adv): In an unbridgeable manner. (Note: This is a rare adverbial form.)
  • They were unbridgeably far apart in their views.

Synonyms

• Insurmountable: Too great to be overcome.
• Impassable: Impossible to travel across or through.
• Irreconcilable: (Of differences or disagreements) so deep that they cannot be resolved.
• Uncrossable: Impossible to cross.

Antonyms

• Bridgeable
• Surmountable
• Reconcilable
• Crossable

Notes on Meaning

"Unbridgeable" is primarily used in a figurative sense. While it can literally describe a physical gap (like a river) that cannot be bridged, its most frequent and powerful use is to describe abstract, intangible divisions—such as those in beliefs, understanding, or social status—that are deemed permanent and impossible to resolve.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. not bridgeable
   • a wide unbridgeable river
   • unbridgeable generation gap