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 Glad-handing is a competitive sport, one that’s all but impossible to win with both paws buried in a seafood tower. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 How To Avoid Phthalate Exposure During Pregnancy Phthalates are so widely used in today’s society making total elimination nearly impossible. Anna Halkidis, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024 The symbolism of the setting was impossible to ignore. Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2024 But some injuries, such as the ones Angels star center fielder Mike Trout has endured in the previous three seasons, are impossible to play through. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Henry and his allies say that the current insecurity would make a free and fair vote impossible, but such explanations do little to appease popular outrage. Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 For us dissidents, reaching the people to unify them with the idea of reestablishing freedom has become almost impossible. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024 Then the seemingly impossible happened: Kostyuk started lacing shots with power and precision. Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024 But even with a fleet of 400 volunteer pilots on your side, planning in this constantly-changing landscape can be nearly impossible. Hannah Murphy Winter, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impossible.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near impossible

Cite this Entry

“Impossible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impossible. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on impossible

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