IMPOSSIBLE Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

impossible

adjective

(ˌ)im-ˈpä-sə-bəl

Definition of impossible

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of impossible Each year brings with it a seemingly impossible fashion comeback. — Alex Sales, Glamour, 17 July 2026 But a handful of providers will step in if that issue is impossible to detect. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 17 July 2026 In the original story, the knot was considered impossible to untangle. — Doug Shannon, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 More than 50 years after the passage of Clean Air Acts, another one of our most pressing environmental crises is now impossible to ignore. — Rebecca Florsheim, STAT, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for impossible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impossible

Adjective

Getty Images At first sight, Hannia Zia and Joana Ferreira are unlikely founders of a start-up promising to shake up the American construction industry.

— David Prosser, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Many of the athletes represented are unlikely to earn significant NIL money—some might not earn any—by playing another season.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of unlikely

Adjective

Michael Johnston plays Bear, a music store employee who has a hopeless crush on his co-worker Nikki.

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Waymo’s fleet of autonomous taxis has garnered a reputation for causing mayhem on public streets, from trapping drivers in hours of hopeless gridlock to driving into oncoming traffic.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 8 July 2026

Definition of hopeless

Adjective

Since this was impractical, the ADA approved the original session but did not advertise it.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026
Due to their smaller size, developers hope they can be manufactured more efficiently and deployed in places where large nuclear plants would be impractical.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 11 July 2026

Definition of impractical

Adjective

Purists don’t care for the interruption in the game’s natural flow, but resistance remains futile as long as FIFA is in charge of ⌘+F’ing its way through the rule book.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 July 2026
An unusual scene unfolded at the beach in Los Angeles County on Thursday morning when a man who was wanted by police ran into the water and stayed in for over an hour in a futile attempt to escape, authorities said.

— Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of futile

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impossible

impossibly

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“Impossible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impossible. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of impossible

adjective

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