impervious adj : not admitting of passage or capable of being affected; "a material impervious to water"; "someone impervious to argument" [syn: imperviable] [ant: pervious]

English

Etymology

From impervius "cannot be passed through," from in- "not" + pervius "letting things through"

Pronunciation

• a UK /ɪmpɜviɛs/ a US /ɪmˈpɝ.vi.əs/
• Rhymes with: -ɜː(r)viəs

Adjective

1. unaffected or unable to be affected by

   The man was completely impervious to the deception we were trying.

2. preventative of any penetration; impenetrable, impermeable

   Although patchworked and sagging, the roof proved impervious to the weather.

3. immune to damage or effect

   The old car seemed to be impervious to the wear and tear of age.

Translations

Related terms

• imperviously
• imperviousness

Philistine, airtight, ballproof, beyond reach, bombproof, bulletproof, burglarproof, callous, calloused, case-hardened, closed forever to, closed to, corrosionproof, dampproof, fire-resisting, fireproof, flameproof, flinty, foolproof, hard, hardened, hardhearted, hermetic, holeproof, impassable, impenetrable, impermeable, impersuadable, impersuasible, impervious to, inaccessible, indurated, inflexible, insensitive, inured, leakproof, lost to, noiseproof, nonpuncturable, obstinate, out of reach, pachydermatous, proof, proof against, punctureproof, resistant, rustproof, shatterproof, shellproof, soundproof, steeled against, steely, stony, thick-skinned, tight, un-come-at-able, unaccessible, unamenable, unapproachable, unattainable, unavailable, undiscoverable, ungettable, unimpressionable, uninfluenceable, unmovable, unobtainable, unpassable, unperforable, unpersuadable, unpierceable, unpliable, unprocurable, unreachable, unreceptive, unresponsive, unsecurable, unsuggestible, unsusceptible, unswayable, unyielding, watertight, weatherproof