impossible

adjective

im·​pos·​si·​ble (ˌ)im-ˈpä-sə-bəl How to pronounce impossible (audio)
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

Examples of impossible in a Sentence

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
To infer causality or intent within those actions is even more difficult, if not impossible, when so many other factors are at play beyond Paqueta’s control. Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025 Prosecutors say a fair trial would be impossible not only in this mountain community of fewer than 22,000 people, but also any other adjacent county because the suspect and victim were both well known. Andy Rose, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025 The meta-fiction that follows is a story of a filmmaker who, like Vasyanovych, finds it all but impossible to tell a story that isn’t about the war. Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025 Kunis plays the local police chief, Geraldine Scott, who calls upon Craig's Benoit Blanc when a seemingly impossible murder rocks the town. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impossible

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of impossible was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Impossible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impossible. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

impossible

adjective
im·​pos·​si·​ble (ˈ)im-ˈpäs-ə-bəl How to pronounce impossible (audio)
1
a
: incapable of being or of occurring
b
: very difficult : hopeless
an impossible situation
2
: very bad or unpleasant
an impossible person
impossibly
-blē
adverb

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

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