impervious

What does “impervious” mean?

adjective.not allowing fluid to pass through; unable to be affected by.

SAT Usage

the term often appears in contexts related to resilience, emotional strength, or physical barriers. It emphasizes a strong resistance to external influences or pressures, distinguishing it from similar words like "immune," which suggests protection from something specific rather than an overall inability to be affected.

Common Confusions

Impervious implies a complete resistance to outside influences, while immune usually suggests a specific protection against particular threats or diseases.

Example Sentences

• He seemed impervious to cold, refusing to wear a coat in January.

• The man was completely impervious to the deception we were trying.

• Although patchworked and sagging, the roof proved impervious to the weather.

Word Parts: How to Remember “impervious”

Break “impervious” into its parts: in- (not). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: in- not (Latin)