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IMPOSSIBLE

Pronunciation (US):

Dictionary entry overview: What does impossible mean?

• IMPOSSIBLE (noun)
The noun IMPOSSIBLE has 1 sense:

1. something that cannot be done

Familiarity information: IMPOSSIBLE used as a noun is very rare.

• IMPOSSIBLE (adjective)
The adjective IMPOSSIBLE has 3 senses:

1. not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
2. totally unlikely
3. used of persons or their behavior

Familiarity information: IMPOSSIBLE used as an adjective is uncommon.

Dictionary entry details

• IMPOSSIBLE (noun)

Sense 1

impossible ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Something that cannot be done

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

his assignment verged on the impossible

Hypernyms ("impossible" is a kind of...):

impossibility; impossible action (an alternative that is not available)

• IMPOSSIBLE (adjective)

Sense 1

impossible ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

Context examples:

an impossible dream / an impossible situation

Similar:

unachievable; unattainable; undoable; unrealizable (impossible to achieve)

out (not worth considering as a possibility)

impracticable; infeasible; unfeasible; unworkable (not capable of being carried out or put into practice)

hopeless (certain to fail)

Also:

hopeless (without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success)

impractical (not practical; not workable or not given to practical matters)

unrealistic (not realistic)

insurmountable; unsurmountable (not capable of being surmounted or overcome)

unthinkable (incapable of being conceived or considered)

Attribute:

possibility; possibleness (capability of existing or happening or being true)

Antonym:

possible (capable of happening or existing)

Sense 2

impossible ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Totally unlikely

Synonyms:

unimaginable; out of the question; inconceivable; impossible

Similar:

unthinkable (incapable of being conceived or considered)

Sense 3

impossible ^{[BACK TO TOP]}

Meaning:

Used of persons or their behavior

Synonyms:

insufferable; unsufferable; impossible; unacceptable

Context examples:

impossible behavior / insufferable insolence

Similar:

intolerable; unbearable; unendurable (incapable of being put up with)

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IMPOSSIBLE: related words searches

» Definition of undoable
» What does infeasible mean?
» hopeless: pronunciation in phonetic transcription
» Meaning of possibility
» possible definition

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