Impervious: meaning, example and synonyms

Imperviousadj. Not affected or influenced by something; also, not letting liquid or gas pass through.

Flashcard for Impervious (adjective): not affected or influenced by something; also, not letting liquid or gas pass through. Example: The senator seemed impervious to criticism, repeating his proposal at every hearing no matter how forcefully the experts objected. Synonyms: resistant, immune, unaffected, impenetrable. Antonyms: susceptible, vulnerable, sensitive, permeable. Memory tip: im- ("not") + per ("through"): nothing gets through. Illustration: raindrops bouncing off a large glossy umbrella held by a calm, fully clothed person in a downpour.

Example

The senator seemed impervious to criticism, repeating his proposal at every hearing no matter how forcefully the experts objected.

Part of speech
adjective
Synonyms
resistant, immune, unaffected, impenetrable
Antonyms
susceptible, vulnerable, sensitive, permeable
Memory tip
im- ("not") + per ("through"): nothing gets through.

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Check yourself: Impervious in context

Pick the word that best completes each text, as on the SAT's words-in-context questions.

Question 1

The new coating makes the bridge's steel nearly ______ to salt water, which had rusted the old structure within a decade.

Question 2

Absorbed in her experiment, the chemist seemed ______ to the fire alarm until a colleague tapped her on the shoulder.

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