1
Core quality
Unable to be penetrated, affected, influenced, or harmed by something.
Example
The coating is impervious to water.
impervious
/ɪmˈpɜːviəs/ · im-PUR-vee-usadjective
Unable to be penetrated, affected, influenced, or harmed by something.
Use impervious to express this relationship precisely: unable to be penetrated, affected, influenced, or harmed by something.
What impervious Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Attributive or predicative use
Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.
Example
She remained impervious to flattery.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.
Example
The system is resilient but not impervious to attack.
Use impervious Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The coating is impervious to water.
She remained impervious to flattery.
The system is resilient but not impervious to attack.
Precision Matters
Impervious overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
impervious
vs.Means unable to be penetrated, affected, influenced, or harmed by something.
impenetrable
Means impossible to pass through, enter, or understand.
impervious
vs.Means unable to be penetrated, affected, influenced, or harmed by something.
resilient
Means capable of recovering quickly from difficulty, damage, or change.
impervious
vs.Means unable to be penetrated, affected, influenced, or harmed by something.
palpable
Means so noticeable that it seems capable of being felt.
impervious
vs.Means unable to be penetrated, affected, influenced, or harmed by something.
perceptible
Means able to be noticed, detected, seen, heard, or otherwise sensed.
Test impervious in Context
The pressure had no apparent effect or influence on her.
1
Despite months of criticism, the director appeared ___ to public pressure and changed nothing.