Invincible is an adjective describing something or someone that cannot be defeated or overcome; unbeatable or indomitable. It conveys a sense of supreme strength, durability, or resilience, often implying superiority in a given context. The term emphasizes an absolute lack of vulnerability in performance or outcome, typically used in exalted or dramatic language.
"The team appeared invincible after winning ten straight games."
"Her invincible confidence carried her through the toughest audition."
"The fortress stood invincible against the siege for months."
"With invincible determination, he completed the marathon despite injuries."
Invincible comes from Late Latin invincibilis, from in- (not) + vincere (to conquer, win). The Latin root vinc- appears in many words meaning to win or conquer (victory, vincible, convince from con- + vinc-). The form invincibilis appeared in classical Latin with the sense of not being conquerable. In medieval Latin and Early Modern English, invincibilis evolved into invincible in the 16th century, adopting the sense of “not able to be conquered.” The prefix in- here is not simply negation but an intensifier, reinforcing the idea of absolute, unrecoverable dominance. Throughout adoption into English, invincible retained a dramatic, almost hyperbolic tone, often used in rhetoric and literature to describe heroes, armies, or ideas presented as unconquerable. First known use in English traces to the 16th century, aligning with the Renaissance revival of classical vocabulary and sentiment. The word’s semantic trajectory mirrors other -vincible terms (convincible, invincibility) that hinge on the core Latin vincere “to conquer.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Invincible" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Invincible"
-ble sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as in-VIN-suh-buhl (IPA US: ɪnˈvɪnsɪbəl; UK: ɪnˈvɪnsɪbəl; AU: ɪnˈvɪnsɪbəl). The secondary stress falls on VIN. Start with a short, unstressed initial syllable in-; then stress on -VIN-, followed by a light -si- and a soft -ble. Visualize the /ɪ/ in kit, /v/ as a labiodental fricative, /n/ as a nasal, and the final -ble as /bəl/. Audio reference: you’ll hear a clear stress peak on the second syllable in most native speech.
Common mistakes: 1) Stress shifting to the first syllable (IN-vin-si-ble) instead of second syllable. 2) Dropping the final /l/ or making it too dark as /ɫ/ in some dialects. 3) Mispronouncing the medial /ɪ/ as /i:/ in some accents. Correction: maintain /ɪ/ in the second syllable, keep a light /əl/ at the end, and emphasize the /nˈvɪn/ cluster without turning it into /ɪnˈviːnsɪbəl/.
In US and UK, the vowel in the second syllable is /ɪ/ and the stress remains on -VIN-. US tends to produce a slightly flatter /ɪ/ and a more pronounced /əl/ ending; UK is often crisper with a shorter /ɪ/ and a lighter final /əl/. Australian tends to center vowels slightly more and may have a less rounded /əl/ ending. Overall, the rhythm is three syllables with a secondary lightness on -si- across varieties.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic stress pattern and the final -ble cluster. The strong mid-syllable /ˈvɪns/ requires precise articulation of /v/ and /n/ without vocalizing the /ɪ/ too long. The ending /bəl/ can become a syllabic /l̩/ in faster speech. Additionally, the initial unstressed /ɪ/ in- can be reduced in rapid speech. Focus on sustaining the middle secondary stress and closing with a light, quick /əl/ sound.
A unique feature is the cluster /nvɪn/ immediately after the initial unstressed syllable. The sequence combines /n/ and /v/ with a sharp /ɪ/ vowel; many speakers insert a brief vowel between /n/ and /v/ in quick speech, producing an unexpected /nɪnv/ sound. Practicing tight consonant timing and keeping the /v/ clearly audible helps maintain the intended rhythm and prevents a fused or sloppy transition.
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