as in unlikely
incapable of being solved or accomplished
the seemingly impossible problem of world hunger fitting everything in my backpack seemed an impossible task
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Recent Examples of impossible
Forecasters say intense snow bands could make travel conditions near impossible in the region, including in the Chicago and Detroit metro areas.
—
Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
But the consensus among academics is that obtaining government funding for mRNA research will be extremely difficult — if not impossible — for many projects.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025
Some of those left have missed the window of opportunity to flee – Ukrainian authorities have said evacuations are currently impossible – but others might be waiting for the Russian troops to arrive.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Marquette, Alger, Gogebic, and Luce counties could see between 4 and 10 inches of snow through Monday, and travel may become difficult or even impossible during periods of intense snowfall.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impossible
Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
But the consensus among academics is that obtaining government funding for mRNA research will be extremely difficult — if not impossible — for many projects.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025
Some of those left have missed the window of opportunity to flee – Ukrainian authorities have said evacuations are currently impossible – but others might be waiting for the Russian troops to arrive.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Marquette, Alger, Gogebic, and Luce counties could see between 4 and 10 inches of snow through Monday, and travel may become difficult or even impossible during periods of intense snowfall.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impossible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impossible
Adjective
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The team rallied to win their first Test in Australia since 2011 at the MCG in Melbourne and have now taken the final Test into a fifth day in Sydney, albeit victory looks unlikely.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, said a major drought year is unlikely given how much precipitation the state has gotten, adding that the southern part of state is seeing one of the wettest starts to any water year on record.—
Chaewon Chung
Updated January 6,
Sacbee.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Things take a turn for the whimsical when, with the help of some lightning — and later, Taffy’s tanning bed — Lisa finds a companion in an undead, Victorian-era Cole Sprouse, a hopeless romantic who communicates exclusively in grunts, and whose devotion to Lisa knows no bounds.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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The Jets are hopeless, with head coach Aaron Glenn pushing back on reporters weekly and owner Woody Johnson tossing his $40 million quarterback, Justin Fields, under the bus after another rough outing.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Those costs, Adler said, include slowing down response times, increasing the number of computations and sometimes the model rejecting non-problematic requests.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
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The Sabres run into some significant issues down the lineup — upgrading the fourth line should be among Kekäläinen’s most pressing priorities between now and the trade deadline — but young centre Noah Ostlund has helped give Buffalo’s usually problematic fourth line some connective heft and floor.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Critics lambasted those policies as impractical at best, reckless at worst.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
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The Countach is also famously impractical and a pain to drive, so the next buyer will likely be taking on a more-than-usual stewardship role in terms of old supercars, the service not being to themselves but to the wider community, which gets to look at the Countach rather than operate it.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But the rally felt less threatening than futile.—
Zach Fisch,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
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And this is asking that question, how are these people finding meaning and purpose in their lives that feel so oppressive and futile?—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impossible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impossible. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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