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 Just three years ago, Fanny Lumsden had an on-stage moment that’s near-impossible to beat. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2026 Large ships rely on massive generators and motors that are often difficult or impossible to remove for maintenance. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026 North Koreans live under institutions designed to make independent organization impossible. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026 From droughts and wildfires to floods and slow, rolling nature degradation, fashion’s nature risks are becoming impossible to ignore. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for impossible

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impossible

Adjective

Friedman began her remarks by reminding the audience of von Furstenberg’s unlikely beginning, born in Brussels to a Holocaust survivor.

— Ariel Bielsky, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
Dahlia Scheindlin, a veteran pollster who works for left-of-center candidates and parties in Israel, speculated that the number of returning overseas voters was unlikely to be big enough to change the outcome of the election.

— Daniel Brook, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of unlikely

Adjective

Vaughn Hardenberg Westwood Blame game The Angels fire manager Kurt Suzuki after another dismal, hopeless season.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
On Monday, a day after the Colts lost to the winless and hopeless Tennessee Titans at home, Indianapolis announced that Ballard has been relieved of his duties as team general manager.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of hopeless

Adjective

Also, many families of rare disease patients spend years creating databases, known as natural history studies, so they can be used as control groups in trials instead of giving patients a placebo, which is often impractical and unethical.

— Gerry Smith, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Texas law requires elementary schools to provide at least 30 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, which can be cut to 27 minutes per day if scheduling makes the full amount impractical.

— Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of impractical

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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 2 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of impossible

adjective

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