impossible
/im'pɔsəbl/
Definition
Adjective:
- Not able to occur, exist, or be done: Describes something that cannot be achieved, realized, or happen under any circumstances.
- Extremely difficult to deal with: Used to describe a person or situation that is very unreasonable, unpleasant, or hard to manage.
Noun:
- Something that cannot be done: Refers to a task, goal, or concept that is inherently unachievable.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Climbing that mountain without gear is impossible. (Describes an unachievable action.)
- The instructions were contradictory, making the task impossible. (Describes an unrealizable task.)
- He was being impossible during the meeting, refusing to listen to anyone. (Describes unreasonable behavior.)
Noun:
- They are asking us to achieve the impossible. (Refers to an unachievable goal.)
- Proving a negative is often considered the impossible. (Refers to an inherently undoable concept.)
Advanced Usage
- "next to impossible" / "virtually impossible": Extremely difficult, though perhaps not absolutely incapable of being done.
- Finding a parking spot downtown at noon is next to impossible.
- "Mission: Impossible": A popular cultural reference (from film and television) meaning a task presented as extremely difficult or seemingly unachievable.
- Getting everyone to agree on the design felt like a mission: impossible.
Variants and Related Words
- Impossibly (adverb): In a way that seems impossible; to an extreme degree.
- The task was impossibly difficult.
- She was impossibly late.
- Impossibility (noun): The state or fact of being impossible; something that is impossible.
- They discussed the impossibility of time travel.
Synonyms
- Adjective (unachievable): Unattainable, unfeasible, impracticable, inconceivable.
- Adjective (unreasonable): Insufferable, intolerable, unbearable, difficult.
- Noun: Pipe dream, hopeless cause.
Antonyms
- Adjective: Possible, achievable, feasible, practicable, likely.
- Noun: Certainty, sure thing.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "To attempt the impossible": To try to do something that cannot be done.
- Trying to please everyone is to attempt the impossible.
- "Nothing is impossible": A proverb expressing optimism that any goal can be achieved with enough effort.
- With enough determination, nothing is impossible.
Adjective
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used of persons or their behavior
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impossible behavior
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insufferable insolence
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totally unlikely
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not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
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an impossible dream
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an impossible situation
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Noun
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something that cannot be done
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his assignment verged on the impossible
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