Insurmountable Meaning
/ˌɪnsəˈrmaʊntəbəl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjIncapable of being passed over, surmounted, or overcome; insuperable
Sentence Examples
The odds were seemingly insurmountable but he overcame them to win the presidency.
No problem is insurmountable.
A difficulty is a light. An insurmountable difficulty is a sun.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The team faced a major ____ obstacle that they simply could not overcome at all.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The problems facing the small company were ____, and it was forced to close down last month.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- English surmount Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English surmountable English insurmountable From in- + surmountable.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Overcoming Japan’s demographic crisis has proved insurmountable for occupants of the Kantei – the prime minister’s office – long before Kishida moved in last autumn."
— 2023 January 24, Justin McCurry, “Japan PM’s solution to dire birthrate has already been rejected by young”, in The Guardian:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The team faced a major ____ obstacle that they simply could not overcome at all.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The problems facing the small company were ____, and it was forced to close down last month.