Insurmountable is a word that can be tricky to spell. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is /ˌɪnsəˈmaʊntəbəl/. The first syllable is pronounced as "in" with a short "i" sound, followed by "sur" with a short "u" sound. The second syllable contains the sound "mount" with a short "ou" sound, and the final syllable is pronounced as "a" with a schwa sound followed by "ble" with a silent "e". Remember these sounds when writing this challenging word!
Insurmountable is an adjective that describes an obstacle, difficulty, or problem that cannot be overcome, conquered, or surmounted. It is used to characterize a situation that presents immense challenges or barriers that seem impossible to overcome, no matter how hard one tries.
When something is deemed insurmountable, it implies that all efforts, skills, or resources available are insufficient to overcome or surpass it. This obstacle or problem is often perceived as overwhelming, daunting, or undefeatable. It implies a level of severity that surpasses the standard difficulty or challenge.
For example, an athlete facing an insurmountable task may refer to a rival competitor who consistently breaks records or demonstrates extraordinary skill, seemingly beyond their own capabilities, as an insurmountable obstacle. Similarly, an individual dealing with financial issues may find themselves trapped in a cycle of debt that appears insurmountable due to high interest rates or mounting expenses that exceed their income.
In essence, insurmountable encapsulates the notion of an impossible or exceedingly difficult obstacle or challenge. Although the term suggests an inherent level of difficulty, it is important to remember that what may be considered insurmountable in one context may not be perceived as such in another, as individual perspectives and circumstances may vary.
That cannot be surmounted or overcome.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word insurmountable can be traced back to its Latin origins. It derives from the Latin prefix in-, meaning not, and the verb surmountare, which means to surpass or to overcome. The Latin word surmountare is formed by combining the prefix super, indicating above or over, with the verb montare, meaning to climb or to mount. Therefore, insurmountable literally means not able to be climbed or surpassed.