imperceptible Hear it!

imperceptible Definition

im·per·cep·tible (im′pər septə bəl)

adjective

not plain or distinct to the senses or the mind; esp., so slight, gradual, subtle, etc. as not to be easily perceived

Etymology: Fr < ML imperceptibilis: see in- & perceptible

imperceptible Related Forms
im′·per·cep′·tibil·ity noun im′·per·cep·tibly adverb
imperceptible Synonyms

imperceptible

modif.

imperceptible Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • movement: Near where I am standing, the imperceptible movement of a root has pushed through the foundations of a wall.
  • change: They suggest that there has been a slow movement toward morality, with an imperceptible ethical change in every year or at every instant.
  • degree: We see at least that such powers are developed in children by imperceptible degrees.
  • variation: Laid paper bears almost imperceptible variations in paper thickness.
  • nod: Rather, they are a group whose importance seems to be taken as read in an almost imperceptible nod of quiet acknowledgment.
  • loss: Alzheimerâs disease starts with gradual, almost imperceptible, loss of brain function, usually first noticed as loss of memory.

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: The herb's delicate flowers have five petals with tiny, almost imperceptible black dots along their margins.
  • surprisingly: A company based losses at more affect the photographic difference was surprisingly imperceptible.
  • virtually: However Mercedes have pioneered a gearbox that makes the change virtually imperceptible.
  • nearly: The effect is nearly imperceptible because the composition is so effective.
  • quite: At first there was nothing to confide: the shrinking was quite imperceptible.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: Or to be more accurate, their aging slowed enough to become almost imperceptible.