impossible
adjective
im·pos·si·ble (ˌ)im-ˈpä-sə-bəl 
1
a
: incapable of being or of occurring
b
: felt to be incapable of being done, attained, or fulfilled : insuperably difficult
an impossible deadline
2
a
: extremely undesirable : unacceptable
b
: extremely awkward or difficult to deal with
the actor was impossible on the set
impossibleness noun
Synonyms
- hopeless
- insoluble
- insolvable
- insuperable
- unattainable
- undoable
- unrealizable
- unsolvable
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
It's impossible to predict the future. The heavy rain made it impossible to see the road. It's physically impossible for a child to lift that much at once. It's virtually impossible to book a flight just before the holiday. These math problems are impossible! You refuse to help and then criticize me for not doing it right? You're impossible! My boss is just an impossible woman. See More
Recent Examples on the Web The queen’s death is near-impossible to miss in a walk around London. 
Max Colchester, WSJ, 10 Sep. 2022 The impossible has been overtaken by the inevitable. The Editors, National Review, 9 Sep. 2022 Not to mention, insurance complications and prior authorization issues may make switching medications impossible for some. Zoe Witt, Glamour, 9 Sep. 2022 With all the pressure from ecologists and auto-safety advocates, Ford was finding it impossible to justify dropping four or five million at the tracks every year where people could see it. Car and Driver, 9 Sep. 2022 Even worse, my confidence and self-esteem are at an all-time low, so meeting new people feels impossible. Meredith Goldstein, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022 Changing the state’s voting laws in a more restrictive way could make a Democratic win nearly impossible. Daniel Strauss, The New Republic, 8 Sep. 2022 While financial experts routinely recommend those with debt pay it down while simultaneously saving for financial goals like retirement or a house, that is simply impossible for many people. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 Whether the membership that votes on the Emmys is itself representative of the broader populace or the entertainment industry is impossible to know for certain, though, as the academy does not — and will not — inquire into its members’ demographics. Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 See More
Max Colchester, WSJ, 10 Sep. 2022 The impossible has been overtaken by the inevitable. The Editors, National Review, 9 Sep. 2022 Not to mention, insurance complications and prior authorization issues may make switching medications impossible for some. Zoe Witt, Glamour, 9 Sep. 2022 With all the pressure from ecologists and auto-safety advocates, Ford was finding it impossible to justify dropping four or five million at the tracks every year where people could see it. Car and Driver, 9 Sep. 2022 Even worse, my confidence and self-esteem are at an all-time low, so meeting new people feels impossible. Meredith Goldstein, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022 Changing the state’s voting laws in a more restrictive way could make a Democratic win nearly impossible. Daniel Strauss, The New Republic, 8 Sep. 2022 While financial experts routinely recommend those with debt pay it down while simultaneously saving for financial goals like retirement or a house, that is simply impossible for many people. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 Whether the membership that votes on the Emmys is itself representative of the broader populace or the entertainment industry is impossible to know for certain, though, as the academy does not — and will not — inquire into its members’ demographics. Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin impossibilis, from in- + possibilis possible
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing impossible
Kids Definition
impossible
adjective
im·pos·si·ble im-ˈpä-sə-bəl
1
: incapable of being or of occurring : not possible
The noise makes it impossible to concentrate.
2
: very difficult
These math problems are impossible!
3
: very bad or unpleasant
She is impossible to deal with.
Legal Definition
impossible
adjective
im·pos·si·ble
: not possible : incapable of being done, attained, or fulfilled
a party's performance is impossible in part
impossible
adjective
as in unlikely
incapable of being solved or accomplished the seemingly impossible problem of world hunger fitting everything in my backpack seemed an impossible task Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- unlikely
- hopeless
- problematic
- impractical
- futile
- unrealizable
- problematical
- unattainable
- impracticable
- unsolvable
- incredible
- absurd
- undoable
- infeasible
- useless
- unfeasible
- insoluble
- improbable
- insuperable
- insolvable
- unworkable
- inconceivable
- questionable
- unthinkable
- unusable
- dubious
- ridiculous
- unbelievable
- implausible
- suspect
- unimaginable
- doubtful
- disputable
- debatable
- suspicious
- shaky
- far-fetched
- fishy
- fantastical
- fantastic
- preposterous
- outlandish
- shady
- doubtable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- possible
- feasible
- achievable
- workable
- reasonable
- useful
- attainable
- practical
- applicable
- soluble
- doable
- practicable
- likely
- probable
- usable
- functional
- working
- serviceable
- acceptable
- realizable
- plausible
- resolvable
- conceivable
- useable
- credible
- believable