...the impossibility of knowing absolute truth. [+ of]
Synonyms: hopelessness, inability, impracticability, inconceivability More Synonyms of impossible
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
An impossible situation or an impossible position is one that is very difficult to deal with.
The Government was now in an almost impossible position.
Synonyms: absurd, crazy [informal], ridiculous, unacceptable More Synonyms of impossible
3. adjective
If you describe someone as impossible, you are annoyed that their bad behaviour or strong views make them difficult to deal with.
[disapproval]
The woman is impossible, thought Frannie.
More Synonyms of impossible
impossible in British English
(ɪmˈpɒsəbəl)
adjective
1.
incapable of being done, undertaken, or experienced
2.
incapable of occurring or happening
3.
absurd or inconceivable; unreasonable
it's impossible to think of him as a bishop
4. informal
intolerable; outrageous
those children are impossible
Derived forms
impossibleness (imˈpossibleness)
noun
impossibly (imˈpossibly)
adverb
impossible in American English
(ɪmˈpɑsəbəl)
adjective
1.
not capable of being, being done, or happening
2.
not capable of being done easily or conveniently
3.
not capable of being endured, used, agreed to, etc. because disagreeable or unsuitable
an impossible task, an impossible request
Derived forms
impossibleness (imˈpossibleness)
noun
impossibly (imˈpossibly)
adverb
Word origin
OFr < L impossibilis: see in-2 & possible
Examples of 'impossible' in a sentence
impossible
Leaving his family home became almost impossible.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In relationships you see the difference between setting high standards and impossible ones.
The Sun (2016)
His successor is thus in an almost impossible position.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My first job taught me the importance of emotions because teaching is almost impossible unless you are ready to learn.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is almost impossible to manage.
The Sun (2016)
Often it is impossible to deal satisfactorily with a medical problem in 10 minutes.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
That is a dangerous situation with two men on a train, impossible with only one.
The Sun (2016)
We know because it's almost impossible to find phone numbers on websites now.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Two years ago this is what it delivered as a couple of the City's biggest names met to discuss a deal long thought impossible.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Not knowing what this charge is likely to be makes it virtually impossible to compare deals properly.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
These terms install management in such a way that it becomes almost impossible to unseat them.
Kiam, Victor Going For It!: How to Succeed As an Entrepreneur (1986)
You see the difference between setting high standards and impossible ones in a love relationship.
The Sun (2013)
Thus making it impossible for anyone to form a coalition?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This is an abdication of responsibility and leaves the panel in an impossible position.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
To judge a product critically when rushing is difficult but not impossible.
Lashford, Stephanie The Residue Report - an action plan for safer food (1988)
The farmer and grower is faced at present with an almost impossible situation.
Lashford, Stephanie The Residue Report - an action plan for safer food (1988)
To couple a tantalising proposition with an impossible one is not to promise anything at all.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It would be impossible to love anyone else.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The court finds it is in an impossible position.
The Sun (2009)
It may be difficult or impossible to obtain access to crucial information.
Appelbaum, Richard P. Sociology (1995)
Its position would be almost impossible to pin down right now.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This would have been impossible but for one fortuitous circumstance.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
It was just virtually impossible to meet anyone.
The Sun (2016)
That is also an impossible position to sustain.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Does fulfilling one expectation make it difficult or impossible to accomplish another?
Christianity Today (2000)
It is almost as impossible to say the first pair quickly as the second slowly.
Lumsden, Robert 23 Steps to Successful Achievement (1972)
The alternative is to take a difficult situation and turn it into an impossible one.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It seemed impossible that anyone could come alive through that cyclone of destruction.
The Sun (2010)
Sandown were put in an impossible position.
The Sun (2010)
Striking this year for impossible deals will only make things very much harder for millions of those people.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Tests on other animals have yielded further information about animal behaviour that is difficult or impossible to see.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
And she reckons the brides have to wear trainers as it is impossible to deal with the weight in high heels.
The Sun (2010)
My imagination galloped around the possible, the impossible and the absurd.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
My wife finds this impossible to deal with and it's causing many arguments.
The Sun (2009)
Quotations
It is only the impossible that is possible for God. He has given over the possible to the mechanics of matter and the autonomy of his creaturesSimone WeilA War of Religions
Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfastLewis CarrollThrough the Looking-Glass
It always seems impossible until it's doneNelson Mandela
In other languages
impossible
British English: impossible /ɪmˈpɒsəbl/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is impossible cannot be done or cannot happen.
It was impossible to deny the story.
American English: impossible
Arabic: مُسْتَحِيلٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: impossível
Chinese: 不可能的
Croatian: nemoguć
Czech: nemožný
Danish: umulig
Dutch: onmogelijk
European Spanish: imposible
Finnish: mahdoton
French: impossible
German: unmöglich
Greek: ανέφικτος
Italian: impossibile
Japanese: 不可能な
Korean: 불가능한
Norwegian: umulig
Polish: niemożliwy
European Portuguese: impossível
Romanian: imposibil
Russian: невозможный
Latin American Spanish: imposible
Swedish: omöjlig
Thai: ที่เป็นไปไม่ได้
Turkish: imkansız
Ukrainian: неможливий
Vietnamese: không thể
Chinese translation of 'impossible'
impossible
(ɪmˈpɔsɪbl)
adj
[task, demand]不可能的 (bù kěnéng de)
(= difficult)
[situation, position]无(無)法忍受的 (wúfǎ rěnshòu de)
[person]难(難)以对(對)付的 (nányǐ duìfu de)
it is impossible to understand what's going on不可能了解事情的进(進)展情况(況) (bù kěnéng liǎojiě shìqing de jìnzhǎn qíngkuàng)
these feelings are impossible to ignore不能忽视(視)这(這)些情感 (bùnéng hūshì zhèxiē qínggǎn)
it's impossible for me to leave now我现(現)在走不了 (wǒ xiànzài zǒu bù liǎo)
the impossible不可能的事 (bù kěnéng de shì)
All related terms of 'impossible'
the impossible
不可能的事 bù kěnéng de shì
why, that's impossible!
嗯，那是不可能的！ èn, nà shì bù kěnéng de!
it is virtually impossible
事实(實)上这(這)是不可能的 shìshí shang zhè shì bù kěnéng de
to attempt the impossible
尝(嘗)试(試)不可能的事 chángshì bù kěnéng de shì
it's impossible for me to leave now
我现(現)在走不了 wǒ xiànzài zǒu bù liǎo
these feelings are impossible to ignore
不能忽视(視)这(這)些情感 bùnéng hūshì zhèxiē qínggǎn
it is impossible to understand what's going on
不可能了解事情的进(進)展情况(況) bù kěnéng liǎojiě shìqing de jìnzhǎn qíngkuàng
it's impossible to drag him out of bed/out of the house
让(讓)他下床/离(離)开(開)房子是不可能的 ràng tā xiàchuáng/líkāi fángzi shì bù kěnéng de
1 (adjective)
Definition
not able to be done or to happen
It was impossible to get in because no one knew the password.
Synonyms
not possible
out of the question
Is a tax increase still out of the question?
impracticable
Such measures would be highly impracticable.
unfeasible
beyond the bounds of possibility
2 (adjective)
Definition
not able to be done or to happen
You shouldn't promise what's impossible.
Synonyms
unachievable
hopeless
I don't believe your situation is as hopeless as you think.
out of the question
vain
unthinkable
Returning to live with my parents would have been unthinkable.
inconceivable
It was inconceivable to me that he could have been my own father.
far-fetched
unrealistic characters in far-fetched storylines
unworkable
Washington is unhappy with the peace plan, which it views as unworkable.
implausible
unattainable
unobtainable
beyond you
not to be thought of
Opposites
possible
,
likely
,
reasonable
,
plausible
,
conceivable
,
imaginable
3 (adjective)
Definition
absurd or unreasonable
The Government was now in an impossible situation.
Synonyms
absurd
They go to absurd lengths just to avoid paying a few pounds.
crazy (informal)
I know it sounds a crazy idea, but hear me out.
ridiculous
It was an absolutely ridiculous decision.
unacceptable
His rude behaviour was unacceptable.
outrageous
The prices these places charge are absolutely outrageous.
ludicrous
It's a completely ludicrous idea.
unreasonable
unreasonable increases in the price of petrol
unsuitable
intolerable
preposterous
The whole idea was preposterous.
laughable
She claimed that the allegations were `laughable'.
farcical
a farcical nine months' jail sentence
illogical
his completely illogical arguments
insoluble
unanswerable
inadmissible
Evidence presented by the prosecution was judged inadmissible.
ungovernable
4 (adjective)
Definition
intolerable or outrageous
This woman is impossible, she thought.
Synonyms
intolerable
They felt this would place intolerable pressure on them.
unbearable
I was in terrible, unbearable pain.
insufferable
We all agreed he was the most insufferable bore.
painful
Her glands were swollen and painful.
insupportable
Life without her was tedious, insupportable.
unendurable
He had not expected the pain to be unendurable.
excruciating
I was in excruciating pain.
beyond bearing
not to be borne
Quotations
It is only the impossible that is possible for God. He has given over the possible to the mechanics of matter and the autonomy of his creatures [Simone Weil – A War of Religions]Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast [Lewis Carroll – Through the Looking-Glass]It always seems impossible until it's done [Nelson Mandela]