insurmountable

adjective

ˌin(t)-sər-ˈmau̇n-tə-bəl How to pronounce insurmountable (audio)
Definition of insurmountablenext
as in insuperable
incapable of being defeated, overcome, or subdued the familiar story of the underdog who ultimately triumphs despite insurmountable odds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of insurmountable The report highlights that even as fiber lines are extended into rural areas and billions of federal and state dollars are deployed, affordability and access remain insurmountable barriers for many families. — Erin Mote, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026 Charlotte leaders on Monday lambasted the state as a bad faith partner but indicated the financial pressure campaign might be an insurmountable obstacle. — Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026 Maybe your favorite wrestler finally overcomes insurmountable odds to become a world champion. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 But writing a memoir about her lifelong relationship with Freddie Mercury felt insurmountable. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for insurmountable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insurmountable
  1. insuperable
  2. unconquerable
  3. invincible
  4. unstoppable
  5. indomitable
  6. unbeatable
  7. invulnerable
  8. impregnable
Adjective
  • Orban succeeded in this enterprise to what seemed like an insuperable level.
    — Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Raise the stakes, place insuperable obstacles before the protagonist, have the protagonist somehow surmount them while becoming braver and better.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Definition of insuperable
Adjective
  • But the advent of NIL has turned the gap into an unconquerable chasm.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The rescue party made its way to New York harbor by train, private car, and then two bicycles shared among the three of them—Frank, Sarah’s husband, on one; Sarah and Billo on the other—when shipyard traffic proved unconquerable by automobile.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of unconquerable
Adjective
  • In some Bengali traditions, Vijayadashami rituals include Aparajita Puja, the worship of the goddess in her invincible form, sometimes represented by the butterfly pea plant.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Of course, an extra three-quarters of an inch clearance and some elastic straps do not transform a unibody, front-biased crossover into an invincible rock-crawling monster.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of invincible
Adjective
  • Since the album’s release in June, Rodrigo has been unstoppable, launching her own music festival, Daisy Chain Fields, and kicking off her Unraveled Tour in support of the LP.
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026
  • There is not much to know about his condition publicly other than that the last three months may have been physically tougher on the once-unstoppable singer than what came before.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of unstoppable
Adjective
  • And yet that bright, sweet aroma is front and center in Creed Aventus, the distinctive eau de parfum widely believed to take inspiration from the French emperor’s indomitable spirit.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Part of that similarly indomitable will is that each has subordinated his own earning power to enable his organizations to optimize building around them.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of indomitable
Adjective
  • The Dodgers 4-0 lead, erased in a few minutes by the unstoppable force of Milwaukee's unbeatable offense.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • On opening day, as epitomized by Freeman and Rojas, the Dodgers were unbeatable.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of unbeatable
Adjective
  • Historically, being a strong leader meant being invulnerable and stoic—showing no signs of weakness.
    — Krishna Savani, Harvard Business Review, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Why does Gleb discount the power of those words and feel himself invulnerable?
    — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of invulnerable
Adjective
  • Dropped catches from Steve Smith, Green and Travis Head ensured yesterday's brief rally in the field fizzled out and allowed Bangladesh to bat itself into an almost impregnable position.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The shell of a good- sized adult abalone is more or less impregnable to most of the kelp forest’s predators, too strong and too thick for penetration.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 July 2026
Definition of impregnable

Browse Nearby Words

insuring
insurmountable
insurrection
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insurmountable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insurmountable. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All