Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
impalpable
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "impalpable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that cannot be touched or is difficult to perceive, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "The tension in the room was impalpable, as everyone awaited the announcement with bated breath."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Encyclopedias
Science
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
48 human-written examples
It owes much also to his own feverish dreams, to which he applied a rare faculty of shaping plausible fabrics out of impalpable materials.
Encyclopedias
Mr Paes said the most important effects of the Olympics "are sometimes, many times, the intangible transformations, the impalpable ones related to the brand of a country, the brand of a city, with the self-esteem of a country".
News & Media
His scrupulous wrestle with the impalpable can be quite comic, but his basic point is serious: out of the books of others we sift a book of our own, wherein we read the lessons we need to hear.
News & Media
Learned Hand, whom patent lawyers revere as one of the great patent judges of all time, wrote that the definition of invention was "as fugitive, impalpable, wayward, and vague a phantom as exists in the whole paraphernalia of legal concepts".
News & Media
I had a fear of falling: airplanes spilling their spinning contents like black beans; the parapets at Rockefeller Center or the Guggenheim proving too low and sucking me down with impalpable winds of dread; engorging atria in swank hotels, the piano player miles below his music, his instrument no bigger than a footprint.
News & Media
Though one wouldn't want to turn McCarthy into Henry James, there are surely ways to use a novel to register the more impalpable forms of evil and violence as well as the palpable.
News & Media
Oppenheimer begins the opera by saying, "The soul is a thing so impalpable," and returns many times to the soul, the spirit, and the heart.
News & Media
Yet the compliment is not merely inverted, since even freakish mastery of such tricks does not account for those impalpable gifts — the tremor of presence on the page, the overflow of vitality — which rival the abundance, even gratuitousness, of nature itself.
News & Media
DVDs teetered in towers everywhere; Stiller would often stay up late with Jeff Mann, watching films such as "The Apartment" and "The Graduate" and "Being There" and "Play Time," hoping to reverse-engineer a style, a mood, an impalpable majesty.
News & Media
It can agitate the heart until it throbs and bursts, or it can reduce pulsation until it becomes impalpable.
News & Media
Oppenheimer answers Teller by archly quoting Baudelaire: "The soul is a thing so impalpable, so often useless, and sometimes so embarrassing that at this loss I felt only a little more emotion than if, during a walk, I had lost my visiting card".
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use "impalpable" to describe abstract concepts, emotions, or atmospheres that are difficult to define or grasp, adding a layer of sophistication to your writing.
Common error
While both words describe something not easily perceived, "impalpable" suggests a difficulty in perceiving through any sense, whereas "intangible" specifically refers to something that cannot be touched. Use "impalpable" for things that are difficult to grasp conceptually or emotionally, not just physically.
Source & Trust
93%
Authority and reliability
4.6/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The adjective "impalpable" primarily functions to describe nouns, indicating a quality of being difficult to perceive or grasp. Ludwig examples showcase its use in describing intangible transformations and forms of evil and violence, aligning with Ludwig AI's assessment of correctness.
Frequent in
News & Media
76%
Encyclopedias
2%
Science
22%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Wiki
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "impalpable" functions as an adjective to denote something difficult to perceive or grasp, often used in neutral writing contexts. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the term is grammatically correct and commonly found in reputable sources. While similar to "intangible", it carries a broader sense of imperceptibility, extending beyond physical touch. Ludwig examples show the term is used in contexts ranging from describing subtle emotional states to the unseen impact of phenomena, mostly in news and media environments.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
intangible
Refers specifically to something not capable of being touched or felt physically.
imperceptible
Indicates something that is impossible or difficult to perceive by the senses.
subtle
Implies a delicacy or refinement that makes something hard to notice or analyze.
ethereal
Suggests something light, airy, and delicate, often with spiritual connotations.
insubstantial
Emphasizes the lack of material existence or concrete form.
elusive
Indicates something that is difficult to catch, find, achieve, or remember.
indistinct
Suggests a lack of clarity or definition, making something hard to perceive clearly.
tenuous
Implies a weak or flimsy connection, relationship, or hold.
vague
Indicates a lack of precision or clarity in thought or expression.
fleeting
Implies something that lasts only for a very short time.
FAQs
How do you use "impalpable" in a sentence?
You can use "impalpable" to describe something difficult to perceive or grasp, such as "The tension in the room was "impalpable"." or "The benefits of the project were "impalpable" but significant."
What words are similar to "impalpable"?
Similar words include "intangible", "imperceptible", "subtle", and "ethereal". Each carries a slightly different nuance, but they all suggest something difficult to perceive or grasp.
Is "impalpable" the same as "intangible"?
While similar, "impalpable" suggests something difficult to perceive through any sense, while "intangible" specifically refers to something that cannot be touched. They are often interchangeable, but "impalpable" can apply more broadly to concepts and emotions.
When is it appropriate to use "impalpable" in writing?
"Impalpable" is appropriate when you want to convey the idea that something is difficult to grasp or perceive, whether physically or conceptually. It's particularly effective in describing abstract ideas, emotions, or atmospheres that are hard to define concretely.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
93%
Authority and reliability
4.6/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested