Here are some synonyms of "impossible" and an analysis of their meanings and usage:
1. Unattainable
- Meaning: "Unattainable" means something that cannot be reached, achieved, or obtained. It emphasizes the inability to reach a particular goal or state. For example, "For him, a perfect score in that difficult exam was unattainable."
- Usage difference from "impossible": "Unattainable" often focuses on a goal or an objective. It implies that, despite efforts, a particular end - point is out of reach. "Impossible" is a more general term that can refer to any situation that cannot occur. For example, it's impossible for a square to have five sides (a matter of fact), while a high - paying job might be unattainable for someone due to lack of qualifications (a matter of personal limitation).
2. Infeasible
- Meaning: "Infeasible" means not feasible or practicable. It suggests that a plan, idea, or action is not capable of being carried out successfully. For example, "Building a house on that swampy land was infeasible due to the poor foundation conditions."
- Usage difference from "impossible": "Infeasible" is more about the practicality of a proposed course of action. It implies that there are constraints, such as resources, technology, or circumstances, that prevent something from being done. "Impossible" can refer to a broader range of concepts, including logical or physical impossibilities. For example, time travel (as currently understood) might be considered impossible, while a complex business project might be infeasible because of a lack of funding.
3. Unrealizable
- Meaning: "Unrealizable" means that something cannot be made real or actual. It often refers to dreams, hopes, or plans that cannot come to fruition. For example, "His utopian vision of a world without conflict was, unfortunately, unrealizable."
- Usage difference from "impossible": "Unrealizable" is more focused on ideas, visions, and concepts that cannot be materialized. "Impossible" can apply to a wider variety of things, including physical phenomena and events. For example, it's impossible for a human to fly without any external aid (physical), and a far - fetched business model might be unrealizable (conceptual).
4. Untenable
- Meaning: "Untenable" means not able to be maintained or defended. It's often used in the context of arguments, positions, or situations that cannot be upheld. For example, "His argument was untenable because it was based on false assumptions."
- Usage difference from "impossible": "Untenable" is more about the justifiability of a position or a claim. It implies that there is a lack of support or validity. "Impossible" is more about the impossibility of a fact or an event. For example, a theory that violates basic scientific principles is untenable, while it's impossible for a substance to be both a solid and a gas at the same temperature and pressure in a typical physical sense.
5. Hopeless
- Meaning: "Hopeless" means without hope or expectation of success. It can refer to a situation, a task, or a person's attitude. For example, "The rescue team considered the situation hopeless as the survivors had been missing for days."
- Usage difference from "impossible": "Hopeless" often has an emotional or attitudinal component. It implies a sense of despair or lack of optimism. "Impossible" is a more objective term about the feasibility of something. A problem might seem hopeless to someone, but it might not be objectively impossible. For example, a complex math problem might seem hopeless to a student, but it's not necessarily impossible to solve.