impractical

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adjective im·prac·ti·cal \ (ˌ)im-ˈprak-ti-kəl \

Definition of impractical

:not practical: such as

a :not wise to put into or keep in practice or effect

b :incapable of dealing sensibly or prudently with practical matters

c :impracticable

d :idealistic

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impracticality

play \(ˌ)im-ˌprak-ti-ˈka-lə-tē\ noun

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impractically

play \(ˌ)im-ˈprak-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See impractical defined for English-language learners

See impractical defined for kids

Examples of impractical in a Sentence

Little sports cars are impractical for large families.
He was a dreamy and impractical young man.

Recent Examples of impractical from the Web

Ted Bishop’s idea is improbable, but not impractical.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "Valhalla becoming a PGA mainstay? It's fun idea, but it won't fly | Tim Sullivan," 10 Aug. 2017
The commanding red British behemoth is impractical, as the ovens have to be on all the time, sending the summer temperature inside the kitchen rivaling that of the outdoors.

— by gaile robinson photos by paul moseley, star-telegram, "Whimsical By Design: Charles Dilbeck’s 1938 ranch house still exudes luxury, comfort," 2 Aug. 2017
That’s not to say we’re reverting to the aesthetic of Marie Antoinette, who favored intentionally ornate, over-the-top, and proudly impractical wigs.

— liana schaffner, Allure, "The History of Wigs," 26 July 2017
Thousands of new items wash up daily and make any cleanup attempt impractical, according to Lavers, who specializes in studying plastic pollution.

— jesse greenspan, Scientific American, "Uninhabited Island Reveals Scope of the World's Plastic Problem," 24 July 2017
Dior reinforced that retrograde directive with his impractical, constraining clothes, which seemed better suited to royalty of centuries past than to independent women of the 20th century.

— rhonda garelick, The Cut, "Why It Matters That Melania Wore Dior in Paris Last Week," 21 July 2017
Trump is trying to revive an approach that GOP leaders and the president himself considered but dismissed months ago as impractical and politically unwise.

— Fox News, "McConnell rejects Trump's advice to repeal ObamaCare now, replace later," 1 July 2017
What most of us would consider an impractical hiking outfit appears to be what the real, off-duty Lady Gaga finds most comfortable.

— erika harwood, Vanities, "Lady Gaga’s Hiking Outfit Is Peak Lady Gaga," 23 June 2017
For years, photonic processing was dismissed as impractical.

— matthew hutson, Science | AAAS, "Computer chip mimics human brain, with light beams for neurons," 20 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impractical.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of impractical

1865

impractical Synonyms

IMPRACTICAL Defined for English Language Learners

impractical

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adjective

Definition of impractical for English Language Learners

: not easy to do or use : not suitable for the situation
of a person : not sensible : not able to deal with practical matters effectively

IMPRACTICAL Defined for Kids

impractical

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adjective im·prac·ti·cal \ im-ˈprak-ti-kəl \

Definition of impractical for Students

1 :not suitable for a situation :not practical

Small cars are impractical for large families.

2 :not capable of dealing sensibly with matters that require action

an impractical dreamer

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See words that rhyme with impractical Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for impractical Spanish Central: Translation of impractical Nglish: Translation of impractical for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of impractical for Arabic speakers

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IMPRACTICAL Defined for English Language Learners

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