penetrable

adjective

pen·​e·​tra·​ble ˈpe-nə-trə-bəl How to pronounce penetrable (audio)
: capable of being penetrated
penetrability noun

Examples of penetrable in a Sentence

unfortunately, our netting proved to be a rather penetrable barrier that allowed in our cabin a steady stream of mosquitoes
Recent Examples on the Web Among Clarke’s first major requests was research into ways Metro could make gates less penetrable. Justin George, Washington Post, 28 July 2023 Twenty-seven months into the COVID-19 pandemic, our defenses against the coronavirus seem at once stronger and more penetrable than ever. Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 23 May 2022 In the students’ presence, the tunnel of my concentration grew longer and less penetrable. Time, 6 Jan. 2023 And then there are steel ceilings, ones that are not penetrable, no matter what skills, education or work ethic a person brings. Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2022 But the Taliban have proven how penetrable Kabul is to them in the past week, by assassinating government spokesmen, a local official and even prison prosecutors. Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 12 Aug. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penetrable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of penetrable was in 1538

Dictionary Entries Near penetrable

Cite this Entry

“Penetrable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penetrable. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

penetrable

adjective
pen·​e·​tra·​ble ˈpen-ə-trə-bəl How to pronounce penetrable (audio)
: capable of being penetrated
penetrability noun
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