A word that describes something impossible or near impossible to do but fun to try. One example I can think of is trying to lick one’s elbow. A contortionist can do it but not everyone else. We sure give it a try despite knowing we can’t do it.
asked May 8, 2016 at 8:11
1
Perhaps the word is not specific enough, but I’d simply suggest challenging.
Something challenging is demanding, so perhaps it doesn’t quite stretch to being «near impossible», however a challenge suggests something which is «fun to try». I suppose it depends whether you are looking for an obscure or common word. HTH
answered May 26, 2016 at 11:34
GonjaGonja
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You can use Conundrum or Enigma to refer to difficult but interesting problems.
As per google-
conundrum- confusing and difficult problem or question.
a question asked for amusement, typically one with a pun in its answer; a riddle.
answered May 28, 2016 at 16:10
If referencing Sisyphusical, the word origin coming out of Sisyphus. The defining should be roughly, though most accurately with the following:
An impossible task to accomplish, yet repeatedly attempted as that of a challenge, with demanding physical exertion. Mostly that as being damned to repeat attempting for an eternity.
answered May 19, 2019 at 5:03
Your endeavors are futile. Such a word simply does not exist.
answered Aug 28, 2017 at 12:57
Idioms are a lot of fun to play around with. If you have an idiom set up for every situation, you will show people that you mean business with how well you grasp the English language. This article will explore good idioms to describe something that is impossible.
The preferred alternatives are “when hell freezes over,” “when pigs fly,” and “on the first of never.” Each idiom highlights the impossibility or unlikelihood of a task or goal. It shows that you do not believe something will change unless one of the impossible situations is met.
When Hell Freezes Over
“When hell freezes over” is one of the best metaphors to show that something is impossible. It works really well because hell is described as a boiling place where damned souls go to burn for eternity.
Naturally, it is hard to freeze boiling things. Imagine trying to freeze fire. You wouldn’t have an easy time doing it. That’s what this idiom is trying to suggest, and it’s why it works so well to show that something is impossible.
- Oh, that’s not going to happen, man! Maybe when hell freezes over, but I don’t think you’ve got it in you to complete that.
- When hell freezes over, Dave might start talking to you. Until then, maybe it’s time for you to look elsewhere for other options.
- I’m certain something like this will happen when hell freezes over. Otherwise, I don’t see much hope in you getting it completed.
When Pigs Fly
“When pigs fly” is another great metaphor you can use. It works really well, and it’s really popular with native speakers because of how old it is. Everyone knows what it means when this idiom is used.
The idea is that pigs can’t fly. Technically, you could pick any land or sea-based animal that cannot fly. However, “pigs” are used in this metaphor for imagery, and people remember that it means something will never happen.
- We can date each other when pigs fly. The moment you see a pig flying way up in the sky, you give me a call to let me know.
- When pigs fly, she’ll be there for me. She’s one of the least caring people I know. So, you can understand my skepticism.
- I’m not sure something like that will ever happen. Maybe when pigs fly, but even that is asking a lot for the outcome you expect.
On The First Of Never
“On the first of never” is a good idiom you can use. It sets up false hope initially by saying, “on the first of.” This makes people believe you’re going to give them a specific date. Following that with “never” shows that it will never come true.
Obviously, people expect you to say “on the first of June” (or any month after “of”). Using “never” is a good way to crush their belief or spirit here.
- On the first of never, I’ll talk to you about it. Until that day, I suggest you consider different methods to cope with the split.
- I’m not sure they’ll be able to do this. Not even on the first of never. It just doesn’t seem to make any sense.
- I told them that it would happen on the first of never. They’re still waiting for it to come true. I’ll admit that I admire their blind faith.
It Will Be A Cold Day In Hell When
“It will be a cold day in hell when” is a great idiom you can use to show that something is impossible. It plays on the idea that hell is too hot to be cold again, which is a common trend when looking at impossible metaphors like this.
Again, this is a very popular one amongst native speakers. It’s also very harsh, so you need to make sure you use it in a way that isn’t trying to hurt someone’s feelings.
- It will be a cold day in hell when you finally realize that you’re in the wrong here. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like you.
- It’ll be a cold day in hell when I change my stance on this. I’m pretty firm on it, and I don’t think it’s fair for you to test me.
- It will be a cold day in hell when this happens again. I don’t have a lot of hope for it to come true. Sorry about that.
Not In A Million Years
“Not in a million years” is more of a statement than an idiom, but it works well. You can use this to show that something will never happen. “A million years” works here to show that you have no faith in something coming true.
This is a great phrase to use if you want to shut someone down quickly. It shows that you will never change your mind about something and believe that it will never be possible.
- Oh, no. Not in a million years will I ever go out with you. I’m sorry, but I just don’t think we’re all that compatible right now.
- Nope. Not in a million years. You seem to think that you’re entitled to this with me, but I don’t think things work like that.
- I’m sorry, but I have to say not in a million years. I don’t believe you have the correct work ethic to get this done.
Not A Chance
“Not a chance” is another statement that works well here. It might not be a direct idiom, but it allows you to express your disagreement over the possibility that something might happen.
“Not a chance” means that you do not believe something will ever be possible.
If you want to extend the idiom, it’s very common for people to say, “not a chance in hell.” If you prefer that version, you should use it.
- Oh, not a chance in hell! I’m sorry, but I don’t buy into any of that nonsense. It just doesn’t make sense to me.
- No way! Not a chance! I don’t see it happening, and I’d prefer it if you stopped asking me for my opinion.
- Not a chance, man! You’re never going to be able to pull a bird like that. It simply won’t happen. Don’t even try.
When The Cows Come Home
“When the cows come home” is a great idiomatic expression that shows that something is unlikely or impossible. It shows that you will be waiting for something to happen for a very long time, indicating that it will never come true.
- I’ll believe you when the cows come home. I appreciate that you believe in yourself, but it’ll take more than that for me.
- She said that she’d agree with me when the cows come home. I suppose that means she doesn’t trust a word of it.
- I’m not going to say anything on this matter. At least not until the cows come home. I think it’s only fair I wait until then.
Don’t Hold Your Breath
“Don’t hold your breath” is a great alternative because it indicates that something will never happen. If you were to hold your breath while waiting for something to happen, you would die before you saw it.
The indication here is that you cannot hold your breath for long enough to see something happen. If someone doesn’t believe that something is possible, they’ll use this idiom to remind you.
- Don’t hold your breath. I’m not planning on changing my mind about this anytime soon. You have to deal with that.
- I’m sorry, but don’t hold your breath. I know how things like these go. It won’t end in the way you seem to think it will.
- I wouldn’t hold your breath. She’s already made her feelings clear. You’re chasing after an impossible dream right now.
Once In A Blue Moon
“Once in a blue moon” is another great synonym that shows something does not work or is impossible. A “blue moon” is a very rare occurrence which suggests that something cannot happen when you expect it to.
- It’ll happen once in a blue moon, so good luck with that. I’m sure you can figure something out to change those odds.
- Oh, yeah! Once in a blue moon, Darren actually shows up to work on time. It’s amazing when he manages to pull it off.
- They can only do it once in a blue moon, which is why it’s impossible to see it happen. It’s a really private event, to be fair.
In A Month Of Sundays
“In a month of Sundays” is an interesting idiom that doesn’t get used much. It works well because it refers to something being impossible unless a specific month of only Sundays takes place. Since this is impossible, it indicates that the thing is impossible too.
- I’m not saying that I don’t trust him. I’m just saying that he won’t be able to do this in a month of Sundays. He hasn’t got what it takes.
- In a month of Sundays, I’ll never see him change his mind. I know he believes in this too much, and that’s such a shame.
- It’s only going to come true in a month of Sundays. I suppose you could wait until that time to change your stance on it.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
What is another word for impossible?
788 synonyms found
Pronunciation:
[ ɪmpˈɒsəbə͡l], [ ɪmpˈɒsəbəl], [ ɪ_m_p_ˈɒ_s_ə_b_əl]
Table of Contents
-
adj.
• absurd (adjective)
- anachronistic,
- senseless,
- ludicrous,
- silly,
- bizarre,
- absurd,
- idiotic,
- paradoxical,
- inane,
- self-contradictory,
- stupid,
- crazy,
- farcical,
- foolish,
- irrational,
- meaningless,
- eccentric,
- illogical,
- nonsensical,
- contradictory,
- outlandish,
- fallacious,
- incongruous,
- inconsistent,
- invalid.
• all (adjective)
- unacceptable,
- impossible.
• beyond the bounds of possibility (adjective)
- hardly possible,
- contrary to reason,
- impassable,
- no-win,
- no-way,
- unattainable,
- Inexecutable,
- uncorrectable,
- hopeless,
- futile,
- hundred-to-one,
- infeasible,
- useless,
- unachievable,
- irrealizable,
- too much,
- Cureless,
- unimaginable,
- beyond,
- impervious,
- visionary,
- unrecoverable,
- unreasonable,
- unobtainable,
- way out,
- insurmountable.
• contrarious (adjective)
- in-imitable,
- in imitable.
• embarrassing (adjective)
- more compromising,
- most bewildering,
- dis agreeable,
- most discommodious,
- in commodious,
- in-convenient,
- dis-agreeable,
- dis-concerting,
- be wildering,
- un-easiest,
- most discomfiting,
- in-commodious,
- un-easy,
- unpropitious,
- in convenient,
- un comfortable,
- dis-commodious,
- un-comfortable,
- un-propitious,
- more disconcerting,
- more discomfiting,
- most rattling,
- un-easier,
- most discommoding,
- more distracting,
- un seemliest,
- un-seemly,
- more rattling,
- most disconcerting,
- most mortifying,
- most compromising,
- in-opportune,
- dis commodious,
- un easy,
- more exasperating,
- up-setting,
- up setting,
- un easiest,
- ex-asperating,
- more discommodious,
- un seemly,
- inconvenient,
- un seemlier,
- un propitious,
- troubling,
- most exasperating,
- be-wildering,
- un-seemlier,
- in opportune,
- most distracting,
- un easier,
- ex asperating,
- more bewildering,
- uneasy,
- more mortifying,
- dis concerting,
- most troubling,
- un-seemliest,
- more discommoding,
- more troubling.
• exaggerated (adjective)
- sensational,
- out of proportion,
- highly colored,
- too-too,
- over-wrought,
- overkill,
- hammy,
- pretentious,
- hyperbolic,
- overestimated,
- caricatural,
- schmaltzy.
• hopeless (adjective)
- shot down,
- beyond recall,
- unmitigable,
- helpless,
- irremediable,
- past hope,
- up the creek,
- irredeemable,
- goner,
- in despair.
• implausible (adjective)
- for birds,
- wont hold water,
- re achy,
- wont wash,
- un-reasonable,
- un-convincing,
- full holes,
- re achiest,
- re-achier,
- re-achy,
- un reasonable,
- un-substantial,
- reachier,
- un convincing,
- full of holes,
- re-achiest,
- re achier,
- un substantial,
- reachiest.
• impractical/impracticable (adjective)
- un-serviceable,
- un-wiser,
- non-viable,
- in efficacious,
- un attainable,
- in-feasible,
- most nogo,
- more ivory tower,
- most unbusinesslike,
- un-attainable,
- in-operable,
- more no go,
- most ivorytower,
- more unserviceable,
- un businesslike,
- most inoperable,
- non functional,
- in operable,
- more unbusinesslike,
- more impracticable,
- ivorytower,
- more ivorytower,
- most nonfunctional,
- un-wisest,
- in applicable,
- more infeasible,
- un wise,
- most unserviceable,
- most nonviable,
- non viable,
- most no-go,
- more inoperable,
- wont fly,
- more nogo,
- un-businesslike,
- in-efficacious,
- more nonviable,
- most ivory tower,
- un serviceable,
- most infeasible,
- un-real,
- in-applicable,
- more nonfunctional,
- un wisest,
- more irrealizable,
- un-wise,
- most no go,
- un wiser,
- more no-go,
- most irrealizable,
- in feasible,
- more ivory-tower,
- most ivory-tower.
• inconceivable (adjective)
- un-likeliest,
- staggering,
- more unknowable,
- most imcomprehensible,
- extra-ordinary,
- more imcomprehensible,
- most unknowable,
- most insupposable,
- mind boggling,
- more insupposable,
- in supposable,
- un-likelier,
- most incogitable,
- un-knowable,
- un likelier,
- mindboggling,
- un-likely,
- unheard-of,
- in-cogitable,
- in cogitable,
- unheardof,
- un likeliest,
- in-conceivable,
- imcomprehensible,
- un knowable,
- un likely,
- in conceivable,
- more incogitable,
- in-supposable.
• incredible (adjective)
- un-tenable,
- un tenable,
- in credible,
- incredible,
- in-credible,
- far fetched.
• incurable (adjective)
- Immedicable,
- nowhere to go,
- Remediless,
- out of time,
- irrecoverable.
• indescribable (adjective)
- untellable,
- unspeakable.
• ineffable (adjective)
- too sacred for words,
- beyond words.
• insufferable (adjective)
- un-acceptable,
- in sufferable,
- de-testable,
- un-bearable,
- in-sufferable,
- de testable,
- un acceptable,
- un bearable.
• insupportable (adjective)
- heavyhanded,
- in-admissible,
- un-surpassable,
- in-supportable,
- un surpassable,
- heavy handed,
- in supportable.
• intolerable, ungovernable (adjective)
- egregious,
- unanswerable,
- outrageous.
• irreparable (adjective)
- most irreplaceable,
- more irreplaceable,
- more irremedial,
- de stroyed,
- in-corrigible,
- most irremedial,
- most irretrievable,
- in corrigible,
- de-stroyed,
- more irretrievable.
• Other relevant words: (adjective)
- implausible,
- exaggerated,
- inconceivable,
- unthinkable,
- impractical,
- non-functional,
- unsufferable,
- taking the cake,
- won’t fly,
- irremedial,
- Discommodious,
- extra ordinary,
- irretrievable,
- not allowed,
- unfeasible,
- out of the question,
- at an end,
- non-realistic,
- old-hat,
- unbelievable,
- unendurable,
- utopian,
- pie-in-the-sky,
- preposterous,
- unusable,
- used up,
- blue sky,
- old fashioned,
- inoperable,
- NOGO,
- ridiculous,
- unnegotiable,
- a bit much,
- unworkable,
- unserviceable,
- ideological,
- irreparable,
- not on,
- nonrealistic,
- Insupposable,
- incurable,
- ivory-tower,
- beyond repair,
- contrarious,
- Unbusinesslike,
- insufferable,
- indescribable,
- reachy,
- unheard of,
- nonfunctional,
- starry-eyed,
- unknowable,
- ineffable,
- Incogitable,
- nonviable,
- insupportable,
- not applicable,
- intolerable,
- rings phony,
- impracticable,
- no go,
- irreplaceable,
- won’t wash,
- tall,
- won’t hold water,
- not sensible,
- no-go,
- unrealistic,
- oldfashioned,
- for the birds,
- unsupportable.
• out (adjective)
- out side,
- most away,
- de-mode,
- most demode,
- at end,
- more old hat,
- oldhat,
- behind times,
- de mode,
- most extinguished,
- more away,
- more expired,
- un-fashionable,
- more extinguished,
- most expired,
- most old hat,
- more demode,
- un fashionable,
- most oldhat,
- more oldhat,
- more doused,
- most old-hat,
- most doused,
- more old-hat.
• out of the question (adjective)
- out of question,
- out the question,
- out question.
• preposterous (adjective)
- in sane,
- in sanest,
- in saner,
- in-sane,
- taking cake,
- un-usual,
- farout,
- un usual,
- in-saner.
• ridiculous (adjective)
- foolheaded,
- goofy,
- Gelastic,
- derisory.
• starry-eyed (adjective)
- starryeyed,
- more nonrealistic,
- most nonrealistic,
- non realistic,
- starry eyed.
• tall (adjective)
- embellished,
- most embellished,
- more embellished.
• unbelievable (adjective)
- cockamamie,
- lamebrained,
- past belief.
• unconceivable (adjective)
- un-conceivable,
- un conceivable.
• unendurable (adjective)
- un-endurable,
- un endurable.
• unfeasible (adjective)
- un-feasible,
- un feasible.
• unimaginable (adjective)
- un-ordinary,
- not understandable,
- un commonest,
- un-commoner,
- un commoner,
- un-imaginable,
- un imaginable,
- in comprehensible,
- more inapprehensible,
- un-common,
- un ordinary,
- Inapprehensible,
- most inapprehensible,
- in apprehensible,
- un common,
- in-apprehensible,
- beyond wildest dreams.
• unnegotiable (adjective)
- un-negotiable,
- un negotiable.
• unrealistic (adjective)
- un-realistic,
- un realistic.
• unsufferable (adjective)
- un-sufferable,
- un sufferable.
• unsupportable (adjective)
- un-supportable,
- un supportable.
• unthinkable (adjective)
- un-thinkable,
- un thinkable.
• unusable (adjective)
- un-usable,
- un usable.
• unworkable (adjective)
- un-workable,
- un workable.
• utopian (adjective)
- more idealist,
- most ideological,
- more ideological,
- most fantasy,
- more fantasy,
- most pie-in-the-sky,
- more pie-in-the-sky,
- most pie in the sky,
- dreamest,
- most idealist,
- more pie in the sky.
-
n.
-
•
- critical,
- difficult,
- unlikely,
- improbable,
- trying,
- awkward,
- delicate.
-
•
- something will not work/start/open etc.,
- undesirable,
- possibly,
- hardly,
- offensive,
- be out of the question,
- with the best will in the world,
- objectionable,
- improper,
- unsuitable.
-
•
- irritable,
- unmanageable,
- obstinate.
-
•
- pain.
-
•
- support,
- attitude.
• fat chance (noun)
- unthinkables,
- poor possibilities,
- chance million,
- poor prospects,
- not prayer,
- not a prayers,
- snowballs chance in hell,
- chance a million,
- chance in million,
- snowball chance hell,
- fat-chance,
- ghost of chance,
- when hell freezes overs,
- no chances,
- small chances,
- snowball chance in hell,
- ghost a chance,
- very little chances,
- snowballs chance hell,
- poor outlooks,
- ghost chance,
- snowball’s chance hell,
- slim chances,
- not prayers.
• impossible (noun)
- out,
- unrealizable,
- undoable.
• Other relevant words: (noun)
- very little chance,
- slim chance,
- no ways,
- no way,
- when hell freezes over,
- poor outlook,
- ghost of a chance,
- small chance,
- poor prospect,
- snowball’s chance in hell,
- impossibles,
- fat chance,
- no chance,
- chance in a million,
- not a prayer,
- poor possibility.
-
Other synonyms:
-
•
- ticklish,
- passable,
- ornery,
- impossibility,
- onerous,
- straitened,
- unbridgeable,
- messy,
- insolvable,
- recalcitrant.
-
•
- insoluble,
- unwieldy,
- intractable,
- unbearable,
- froward,
- Fiendish,
- thorny,
- wayward,
- balky,
- ungovernable,
- testing.
-
•
- contrary,
- gnarly,
- elusive,
- hypersensitive,
- tricky,
- will-o’-the-wisp,
- chronic,
- unrelenting,
- inaccessible.
-
•
- perverse.
-
•
- gray.
-
•
- heavy.
• awkward
- embarrassing.
• impassable
- insuperable.
• indescribable
- unutterable.
• inestimable
- imponderable.
• Other relevant words (noun):
- Unconceivable,
- prohibited,
- questionably,
- real,
- paradox,
- doubtful,
- Ungranted,
- vile,
- dire,
- confusing,
- hinder,
- decimal,
- undreamed of,
- lamentable,
- inadmissible,
- obnoxious,
- refractory,
- pitiful,
- convoluted,
- ghastly,
- hopelessness,
- imaginary,
- antic,
- gross,
- far-fetched,
- mythic,
- pathless,
- question,
- positive,
- odious,
- unavailing,
- algorithmic,
- choice,
- inability,
- reciprocal,
- mad,
- Inimaginable,
- remote,
- unthinkably,
- oxymoron,
- numerical,
- awful,
- logarithmic,
- deplorable,
- unreal,
- enigmatic,
- infinite,
- impair,
- hateful,
- untenable,
- fractional,
- unusually,
- fictitious,
- labor in vain,
- pose,
- weird,
- complex,
- hopelessly,
- regrettable,
- laughable,
- perplexing,
- integral,
- nonplus,
- aliquot,
- beyond belief,
- indefensible,
- insane,
- unresolvable,
- option,
- odd,
- unsolvable,
- peculiar,
- extreme,
- pitiable,
- very,
- villainous,
- rugged,
- figurative,
- fantastical,
- detestable,
- beyond consideration,
- Submultiple,
- pair,
- improbability,
- problematic,
- doubtfulness,
- bother,
- unbelievably,
- plaguy,
- bootless,
- overwhelming,
- wretched,
- dubious,
- likely,
- contemptible,
- contradiction,
- surd,
- nothing doing,
- beyond possibility,
- Numerative,
- unusual,
- closed-out,
- suspect,
- barred,
- strange,
- Self-contradiction,
- redundancy,
- too late,
- Impossibilities,
- foul,
- unimaginably,
- infamous,
- conflicting,
- cardinal,
- Refused,
- tangled,
- wild,
- mysterious,
- hard to believe,
- implausibly,
- horrid,
- wonderful,
- even,
- unworthy of,
- desperate,
- differential,
- prodigious,
- horrible,
- Insufferably,
- finite,
- doubtfully,
- bewildering,
- undreamt of,
- base,
- figural,
- puzzling,
- suspicious,
- surprisingly,
- atrocious,
- questionable,
- digital,
- painfully,
- enormous,
- Excluded,
- inexpressible,
- equivocal,
- impossibly,
- ridiculously,
- unable,
- rational,
- shameful,
- Logometric,
- unexpected,
- exponential,
- unaccountable,
- implausibility,
- pointless,
- terrible,
- dubiousness,
- uncertain,
- fulsome,
- numeral,
- numeric,
- ambiguous,
- shocking,
- unsurmountable,
- algorismic,
- dreadful,
- baffling,
- insensate,
- unlikelihood,
- worthless,
- count me out,
- inconsistency,
- trackless,
- fanciful,
- impracticability,
- unworthy,
- perplex,
- oddly,
- oxymoronic,
- heinous,
- flagrant,
- arithmetical,
- exceptionable,
- absurdity,
- disputable,
- Numerary,
- impossible action,
- transcendental,
- problem,
- not likely,
- unbearably,
- fishy,
- incredibly,
- by no means,
- Figurate,
- intolerably,
- labyrinthine,
- Invious,
- knotted,
- unaccepted,
- abominable,
- mind-boggling,
- radical,
- scandalous,
- grievous,
- intricate,
- nefarious,
- waste,
- dismal,
- try one’s patience,
- woeful,
- complicated,
- gravel,
- stubborn,
- incomprehensible,
- irony,
- fantastic,
- prime,
- negative,
- undefeatable,
- noisome,
- extremely,
- rank,
- sad,
- excruciatingly,
- despicable,
- open to doubt,
- vain,
- ordinal,
- knotty,
- nonexistence,
- grave.
How to use «Impossible» in context?
Impossible is a word that is often thrown around carelessly, without understanding the true meaning of the word. We often use the word to describe something that we deem impossible to achieve, or something that we believe is too difficult or impossible to happen. But what exactly is meant when we use the word «impossible»?
To most, it would seem that anything that is impossible is simply something that cannot be done. But this isn’t always the case. To consider something impossible, we must first look at the definition of the word.
Paraphrases for Impossible:
Paraphrases are highlighted according to their relevancy:
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Equivalence
-
Adjective
impracticable, impractical, infeasible, unable, unachievable.
-
Noun, plural
unable.
-
Noun, singular or mass
impossibility.
-
Adjective
-
Independent
-
Adjective
able, absurd, achievable, attainable, available, conceivable, difficult, elusive, feasible, hard, implausible, improbable, inaccessible, inadmissible, incapable, inconceivable, incredible, indefensible, indistinguishable, inevitable, insane, insoluble, insufferable, insuperable, insurmountable, intolerable, intractable, likely, miserable, permissible, plausible, practicable, ridiculous, terrible, unacceptable, unavailable, unavoidable, unbearable, unbelievable, unenforceable, unimaginable, unlikely, unmanageable, unobtainable, unreachable, unrealistic, unthinkable, viable, weak, Precluded, unsustainable, unviable, unaffordable.
-
Noun, plural
complaints, attempts, problems.
-
Noun, singular or mass
inability.
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Verb, 3rd person singular present
prevents, precludes.
-
Adjective
-
Other Related
-
Adjective
hopeless, unattainable, unfeasible, untenable, unworkable.
-
Noun, singular or mass
hopeless.
-
Adjective
Hyponym for Impossible:
-
n.
-
cognition
impossible action, impossibility.
-
cognition
Other forms: impossibles
Something that’s impossible can’t be done. If you want to stop eating donuts but you just can’t, you might say it’s impossible.
If it’s impossible, it cannot happen, or it doesn’t exist. You might wish you could bring Abraham Lincoln back to life for a day so he could come to tea, but that’s impossible. People use the word impossible to mean «out of reach» or «too hard to achieve.» A terrible situation can be impossible, and so can a person who refuses to compromise or seems intent on making things difficult for everyone else.
Definitions of impossible
-
adjective
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
“an
impossible dream”“an
impossible situation”-
Synonyms:
-
hopeless
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
-
hopeless
certain to fail
-
impracticable, infeasible, unfeasible, unworkable
not capable of being carried out or put into practice
-
out
not worth considering as a possibility
-
unachievable, unattainable, undoable, unrealizable
impossible to achieve
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impractical
not practical; not workable or not given to practical matters
-
unrealistic
not realistic
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insurmountable, unsurmountable
not capable of being surmounted or overcome
-
unthinkable
incapable of being conceived or considered
see moresee less-
Antonyms:
-
possible
capable of happening or existing
-
likely
having a good chance of being the case or of coming about
-
accomplishable, achievable, doable, manageable, realizable
capable of existing or taking place or proving true; possible to do
-
affirmable, assertable
capable of being affirmed or asserted
-
attainable, come-at-able
capable of being attained or accomplished
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contingent
possible but not certain to occur
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executable, feasible, practicable, viable, workable
capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as they are
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mathematical
statistically possible though highly improbable
-
practical
concerned with actual use or practice
-
realistic
aware or expressing awareness of things as they really are
-
thinkable
capable of being conceived or imagined or considered
- show more antonyms…
-
hopeless
-
adjective
totally unlikely
-
synonyms:
inconceivable, out of the question, unimaginable
-
unthinkable
incapable of being conceived or considered
-
unthinkable
-
noun
something that cannot be done
“his assignment verged on the
impossible” -
adjective
extremely unpleasant or annoying (of persons or their behavior)
“impossible behavior”
-
synonyms:
insufferable, unacceptable, unsufferable
-
intolerable, unbearable, unendurable
incapable of being put up with
-
intolerable, unbearable, unendurable
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘impossible’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать грубую лексику.
На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать разговорную лексику.
нечто невозможное
то, что невозможно
Are we taking as our source of safe direction something that is impossible?
The word impossible is the word anendektos, meaning something that is impossible, inadmissible, unallowable, or unthinkable.
Слово «невозможно» — это слово «anendektos», означающее нечто невозможное, недопустимое, недопустимое или немыслимое.
Given these considerations, I would classify force fields as a Class I impossibility-that is, something that is impossible by today’s technology, but possible, in modified form, within a century or so.
Принимая все это во внимание, я бы отнес силовые поля к I классу невозможности, т. е. определил их как нечто невозможное для сегодняшних технологий, но реализуемое в модифицированной форме в течение ближайшего столетия или около того.
Pursuant to article 1172 of the Belgian Civil Code, every condition which consists of something that is impossible or contrary to good moral practice or not allowed by law, is null and void and makes the agreement which is subject to that condition, null and void.
В силу ст. 1172 Кодекса любое условие, предполагающее нечто невозможное или противоречащее добрым нравам, либо запрещенное законом, является ничтожным и делает ничтожным соглашение, которое от этого условия зависит.
You want to have something that is impossible and as a result you get upset again.
Do not overbuild your product and create something that is impossible to test.
That’s something that is impossible to think.
However, we cannot validly know something that is impossible, because it is nonexistent.
Однако мы не можем достоверно знать что-либо невозможное, потому что оно не существует.
You see, that is not something that is impossible to happen.
This is something that is impossible… unless — someone was there.
You can do something that is impossible in reality but possible in lucid dreaming.
In Kabbalah, we study differently because we learn about something that is impossible for us to understand or perceive.
In other words, some image processing can be done within the CMOS sensor itself, something that is impossible with CCD devices.
Другими словами, некоторые процедуры обработки изображения могут происходить непосредственно в сенсоре CMOS, что невозможно для устройств CCD.
But if we find something that is impossible to know at trial, then based on Leeds…
Most likely, it’s not about changing the principles of the company and in her desire to lead something that is impossible to win.
Скорее всего, тут дело не в изменившихся принципах компании, а в её желании возглавить то, что невозможно победить.
I just don’t want to get my hopes up and spend my money on something that is impossible.
Я просто не хочу, чтобы мои надежды высокой и инвестировать время и усилия, занимаясь чем-то нереальным.
For the museum, there is nothing hopeless, «sung out,» i.e., something that is impossible to revive and resurrect.
Для музея нет ничего безнадежного, «отпетого», то есть такого, что воскресить и оживить невозможно.
It is ridiculous to say that a person can choose or must do something that is impossible.
With this, customers get real reviews from people who actually bought the product, something that is impossible in a traditional store.
При этом, онлайн покупатели получают реальные отзывы от людей, которые на самом деле купили данный продукт, например, купили компьютер онлайн, т.е. такого в обычном магазине невозможно достичь.
The goal of the SENS Foundation is not to accomplish something that is impossible, which is absolute immortality.
Цель SENS заключается не в достижении чего-то невозможного, например, абсолютного бессмертия.
Результатов: 39. Точных совпадений: 39. Затраченное время: 197 мс
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