Adjacent Words

Insuperable definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

INSU'PERABLE, a. [L. insuperabilis; in and superabilis, from supero, to overcome or surpass.]
1. That cannot be overcome or surmounted; insurmountable; as insuperable difficulties, objections or obstacles.
2. That cannot be passed over.
And middle natures, how they long to join,
Yet never pass th' insuperable line.
The latter application is unusual. This word is rarely or never used in reference to any enemy, in the sense of invincible or unconquerable. We do not say that troops or enemies are insuperable; but the word is applied chiefly to difficulties, objections, obstacles or impediments.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: impossible to surmount [syn: insuperable, insurmountable]
2: incapable of being surmounted or excelled; "insuperable odds"; "insuperable heroes" [syn: insuperable, unconquerable]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin insuperabilis, from in- + superare to surmount, from super over — more at over Date: 14th century incapable of being surmounted, overcome, passed over, or solved <insuperable difficulties> • insuperably adverb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 (of a barrier) impossible to surmount. 2 (of a difficulty etc.) impossible to overcome. Derivatives: insuperability n. insuperably adv. Etymology: ME f. OF insuperable or L insuperabilis (as IN-(1), SUPERABLE)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Insuperable In*su"per*a*ble, a. [L. insuperabilis: cf. OF. insuperable. See In- not, and Superable.] Incapable of being passed over or surmounted; insurmountable; as, insuperable difficulties. And middle natures, how they long to join, Yet never pass the insuperable line? --Pope. The difficulty is enhanced, or is . . . insuperable. --I. Taylor. Syn: Impassable; insurmountable; unconquerable. -- In*su"per*a*ble*ness, n. -- In*su"per*a*bly, adv.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

A problem that is insuperable cannot be dealt with successfully. (FORMAL) ...an insuperable obstacle to negotiations. = insurmountable ADJ

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. 1. Insurmountable, impassable. 2. Insurmountable, too great to be overcome, that cannot be got over.

Moby Thesaurus

beyond one, impassable, impenetrable, impracticable, impractical, impregnable, incontestable, indomitable, inexpugnable, inoperable, insurmountable, invincible, inviolable, invulnerable, irresistible, overpowering, overwhelming, resistless, too much for, unachievable, unassailable, unattainable, unbeatable, uncompassable, unconquerable, undoable, uneffectible, unnegotiable, unperformable, unrealizable, unsubduable, unsurmountable, unsurpassable, unworkable, unyielding