unattainable

adjective

ˌən-ə-ˈtā-nə-bəl How to pronounce unattainable (audio)
Definition of unattainablenext
1
as in inaccessible
hard or impossible to get to or get at an eagle's nest in an unattainable location

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impossible
incapable of being solved or accomplished unfortunately, world peace is probably an unattainable ideal

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 unattainable The ongoing housing crisis, characterized by soaring rents and unattainable mortgages, is profoundly disrupting communities, forcing displacement and severing crucial relationships. — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 By completing a four-game sweep of the Rays the Red Sox are in a place where the American League East title no longer looks unattainable. — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026 By completing a four-game sweep of the Rays the Red Sox are in a place where the AL East title no longer looks unattainable. — Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026 The Spéirling Pure represents an unprecedented level of performance that was previously believed to be physically unattainable for a production car. — New Atlas, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unattainable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unattainable
  1. inaccessible
  2. impossible
  3. unavailable
  4. hopeless
  5. untouchable
  6. unobtainable
Adjective
  • However, the route has remained largely inaccessible because of the volume of sea-ice in the area.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Many residents on Flores island in East Nusa Tenggara province spent the day mourning victims while military teams tried to deliver food, clean water and clothing to inaccessible communities by plane.
    — Firdia Lisnawati, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of inaccessible
Adjective
  • The figure is impossible to confirm but in line with estimates by Western officials.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • That might prove to be difficult, if not prohibitively expensive or just impossible, in urban areas with sewers, gas lines, fiber optic cables and whatnot installed beneath streets, parkways, sidewalks and paved alleys.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of impossible
Adjective
  • With Chandimal still unavailable, Sooriyabandara retains his place for the second test, which Sri Lanka must win to level the series.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The Royals turned to Kimbrel with several of their usual high-leverage relievers unavailable.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of unavailable
Adjective
  • The hopeless romantic in me was shoved out of the way by the football fan.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The wartime mood among European and American intellectuals was hopeless, or, rather, in her estimation, helpless.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of hopeless
Adjective
  • The first two times through the order, Oswalt was almost untouchable.
    — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Still, even with that massive screen credit and several lifetimes’ worth of achievements under his belt, Guy has never seemed particularly interested in treating himself as an untouchable icon.
    — Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of untouchable
Adjective
  • Had the agency not restructured its mission plans, NASA's goal of landing astronauts on the moon before the end of the decade would have very likely been unobtainable.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 26 June 2026
  • There is Tamara, a city where signs symbolize unobtainable meanings.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of unobtainable

Browse Nearby Words

unattainability
unattainable
unattended
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Cite this Entry

“Unattainable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unattainable. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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