imperceptible

adjective

im·​per·​cep·​ti·​ble ˌim-pər-ˈsep-tə-bəl How to pronounce imperceptible (audio)
Synonyms of imperceptible
: not perceptible by a sense or by the mind : extremely slight, gradual, or subtle
imperceptible differences
imperceptibly
ˌim-pər-ˈsep-tə-blē How to pronounce imperceptible (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of imperceptible

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Examples of imperceptible in a Sentence

These changes will be imperceptible to most people. a slight difference in hue between the two glasses that's imperceptible unless they're placed side by side
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Any deflection of electrons shows up as a tiny, almost imperceptible change in voltage. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026 Anthropic's method reportedly embeds an imperceptible mark during text generation, persisting through copying. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026 The contact was imperceptible to the naked eye, but a space-age sensor in the ball had confirmed it. — Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026 The tool, developed by independent AI engineer Luke Geel, analyzes past results and players’ activity—from posture to blink rate—spotting connections that might be imperceptible to the average viewer but visible to top pros. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for imperceptible

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin imperceptibilis, from Latin in- + Late Latin perceptibilis perceptible

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of imperceptible was in the 15th century

Rhymes for imperceptible

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Browse Nearby Words

imperceptibility
imperceptible
imperceptive
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Cite this Entry

“Imperceptible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imperceptible. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

imperceptible

adjective
im·​per·​cep·​ti·​ble ˌim-pər-ˈsep-tə-bəl How to pronounce imperceptible (audio)
1
: not noticeable : not perceptible by a sense or by the mind
one whose beauty was imperceptible to others
2
: hardly noticeable : very small or gradual
an imperceptible smile
imperceptibly
-blē How to pronounce imperceptible (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on imperceptible

Nglish: Translation of imperceptible for Spanish Speakers

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