What does "imperturbable" mean?
Not capable of being, or not easily, perturbed, excited, or upset; calm and collected, even under pressure.
Imperturbable
/ˌɪmpəˈtɜːbəbl̩/ adj
adj ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Not capable of being, or not easily, perturbed, excited, or upset; calm and collected, even under pressure.
- Grammar: imperturbable is listed as adj.
- Nearest alternatives: unflappable, assured, balanced, blanker.
- Useful contrasts: irritable, agitated, anxious.
- Usage evidence: The world is an unfair place. Instead of trying to change it, you must keep an imperturbable heart.
How to use "imperturbable"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "imperturbable" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "imperturbable" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "imperturbable" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "imperturbable" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "imperturbable" is acting as adj in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "unflappable" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "imperturbable", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Not capable of being, or not easily, perturbed, excited, or upset; calm and collected, even under pressure.
"[T]o a vviſe man there can happen no iniury or offence at all, to moleſt the felicity of his minde, vvhich (in the Stoicks opinion) ought to bee imperturbable, and his heart adamantine."
Adjective
- 1 not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure wordnet
Example
"The world is an unfair place. Instead of trying to change it, you must keep an imperturbable heart."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "imperturbable"?
Common synonyms include: unflappable, assured, balanced, blanker, bovine, calm.
How do you use "imperturbable" in a sentence?
The world is an unfair place. Instead of trying to change it, you must keep an imperturbable heart.
How do you pronounce "imperturbable"?
Pronounced /ˌɪmpəˈtɜːbəbl̩/.
Etymology
PIE word *né From Late Middle English imperturbable (“undisturbed; impossible to disturb”), borrowed from Late Latin imperturbābilis, from Latin im- (variant of in- (prefix meaning ‘not’)) + Late Latin perturbabilis (“perturbable”) (from Latin perturbō (“to confuse; to alarm, disturb, trouble, perturb”) + -bilis (suffix forming adjectives denoting a capacity or worth of being acted upon)). Perturbō is derived from per- (intensifying prefix) + turbō (“to agitate, disturb, unsettle, perturb; to upset”) (from turba (“disorder, disturbance, turmoil”) (possibly from Ancient Greek τῠ́ρβη (tŭ́rbē, “confusion, disorder, tumult”), either from Pre-Greek, or Proto-Indo-European *(s)twerH- (“to agitate, stir up; to urge on, propel”)) + -ō (suffix forming infinitives of regular first-conjugation verbs)). By surface analysis, im- (prefix meaning ‘not’) + perturbable.