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

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

As is often the problem with biopics of all kinds — jukebox musical or not — the sheer scope of a life is impossible to capture in a mere 2 hour runtime. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 27 Apr. 2025

And after dark, the dealers were impossible to miss: short young men in hoodies and women in pajama pants, slinking around corners with side packs. —Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2025

That’s not impossible: eSIM only phones are currently exclusive to the U.S., so the dummies for the two Pro models seem to indicate that eSIM isn’t going to make it around the world this year. —David Phelan, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025

Two Venezuelan friends separated by 25 miles will spend their weekend at Kauffman Stadium doing what at one point may have seemed impossible. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2025

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

• the impossible

Rhymes for impossible

• possible

Kids Definition

impossible

adjective

im·​pos·​si·​ble (ˈ)im-ˈpäs-ə-bəl 

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