impossible

adjective

(ˌ)im-ˈpä-sə-bəl How to pronounce impossible (audio)
Definition of impossiblenext
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of impossible Trending Stories When you are prepared, the episode argues again and again, things tend to work out better, even in impossible situations. — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2025 However, completing its dismantling is most likely impossible without an act of Congress, which created the department in 1979. — Chris Megerian, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025 When state or local legislation conflicts with federal housing program requirements, property managers are caught in an impossible position. — Miranda Darden-Willems, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025 Given his excellent contact and batted ball profile, a .254 AVG is at his low-end, and .300 is hardly impossible. — Jake Ciely, The Athletic, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impossible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impossible
  1. unlikely
  2. hopeless
  3. problematic
  4. impractical
  5. futile
Adjective
  • Weaver says that these mega-events are unlikely to have a huge impact on sponsorship value though as stadium sponsorship deals are long-term deals.
    — Steve Price, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • But impeachment and removal are unlikely under the current makeup of Congress.
    — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of unlikely
Adjective
  • There are so many hopeless people out there struggling right now financially and with providing for their families.
    — Jordan Greene, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Sabah had a hopeless prognosis: severe brain edema.
    — Ayesha Khan, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of hopeless
Adjective
  • Fake or illegitimate reviews plague the internet, and such reviews are particularly problematic within fintechs, where customer trust is imperative to ensure confidence in services tied to sensitive information, such as your banking details or other personally identifiable information.
    — Branden Abushanab, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Other areas where eclipse weather will be problematic will be near and along the Pacific coast of Washington, Oregon, and northern and central California where a marine layer of low clouds will be in place at eclipse time.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of problematic
Adjective
  • But that’s impractical for building habitats on other worlds.
    — Sven Bilén, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The caption itself is impractical, if not impossible, for Worthy now.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of impractical
Adjective
  • The data suggests that market timing is not a futile exercise but a skill - one that, like any other, is unevenly distributed and requires both technological sophistication and human insight to exploit effectively.
    — Steven Desmyter, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Former Vice President Mohammad-Ali Abtahi dismissed negotiations with Trump as futile, arguing that Trump's leadership made diplomacy ineffective.
    — Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of futile

Browse Nearby Words

impossible
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Impossible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impossible. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on impossible

Nglish: Translation of impossible for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All