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View synonyms for

impossible

[ im-pos-uh-buhl ]

adjective

  1. not possible; unable to be, exist, happen, etc.
  2. unable to be done, performed, effected, etc.:

    an impossible assignment.

  3. incapable of being true, as a rumor.
  4. not to be done, endured, etc., with any degree of reason or propriety:

    an impossible situation.

  5. utterly impracticable:

    an impossible plan.

  6. hopelessly unsuitable, difficult, or objectionable.

    Synonyms: , ,



impossible

/ ɪˈɒəə /

adjective

  1. incapable of being done, undertaken, or experienced
  2. incapable of occurring or happening
  3. absurd or inconceivable; unreasonable

    it's impossible to think of him as a bishop

  4. informal.
    intolerable; outrageous

    those children are impossible

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈDz, adverb
  • ˈDzԱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ·Dzs··Ա noun
  • ·Dzs· adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of impossible1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English word from Latin word impossibilis. See im- 2, possible
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

While Doge may have cut a significant amount of government spending, the lack of evidence provided for its biggest claimed savings makes it impossible to independently confirm exactly how much.

From

“These families are put in an impossible bind,” Chew said.

From

Experts say it's nearly impossible for India to hold back tens of billions of cubic metres of water from the western rivers during high-flow periods.

From

But experts say earthquakes are impossible to predict due to the complexity of the factors involved in such disasters.

From

But privately members of JSO admit tough new powers brought in to police disruptive protests have made it almost impossible for groups like it to operate.

From

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impossibilityimpossible figure