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
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
Payton Gendron's attorneys filed the request Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, arguing that assembling an impartial jury would be impossible in the area affected by the shooting.
—
Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
As a leader, don't hesitate to challenge your team to achieve what seems impossible—beneath the initial resistance often lies the opportunity for their most fulfilling professional experiences.
—Jack Zenger, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Access is impossible, and information is not forthcoming in the village either: Locals do not seem to appreciate people asking questions about the tuna business, which is shrouded by a mafia-like code of silence.
—Julia Amberger, Nanni Fontana, Marzio Mian, & Nicola Scevola (tr. Elettra Pauletto), The Dial, 3 Apr. 2025
First described by Yale psychologist Irving Janis in 1972, groupthink leads to premature decisions, often bad ones, spurred by conformity within groups where any one person feels that disagreement is impossible.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impossible
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Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
As a leader, don't hesitate to challenge your team to achieve what seems impossible—beneath the initial resistance often lies the opportunity for their most fulfilling professional experiences.
—Jack Zenger, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Access is impossible, and information is not forthcoming in the village either: Locals do not seem to appreciate people asking questions about the tuna business, which is shrouded by a mafia-like code of silence.
—Julia Amberger, Nanni Fontana, Marzio Mian, & Nicola Scevola (tr. Elettra Pauletto), The Dial, 3 Apr. 2025
First described by Yale psychologist Irving Janis in 1972, groupthink leads to premature decisions, often bad ones, spurred by conformity within groups where any one person feels that disagreement is impossible.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impossible
Cite this Entry
“Impossible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impossible. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
adverb
-blē
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