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

Meanwhile, a bloc of moderate Republicans is demanding no reductions in Medicaid benefits – a requirement experts say would be impossible to meet while achieving Republicans' spending-cut goals and other GOP priorities. —Riley Beggin, USA Today, 10 May 2025

The thought of long-term goals like home ownership, starting a family or even retiring one day can feel distant, if not impossible. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

Creating a custom color is a bit more difficult, but not impossible, to find. —Jessica Fields, Essence, 8 May 2025

The seemingly impossible assignment Horne and company have set for themselves is to create a weeks-long tournament focused on what appears to be a mundane idea. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 8 May 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