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- pronunciation:
- Im
pa
s
bl
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective), Word Parts
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
not able to happen, exist, or be done.
For humans, life is impossible without water and air.The boss had set the workers an impossible task.It's impossible to see the mountains from here when it's foggy.- synonyms:
- hopeless, inconceivable, unattainable, unimaginable, unthinkable
- antonyms:
- attainable, possible
- similar words:
- absurd, difficult, illogical, inaccessible, inappropriate, intractable, unbelievable, undoable, unlikely, unreasonable
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| definition 2: |
not capable of being true.
It's impossible that he could have done what you say.- synonyms:
- illogical, inconceivable, unbelievable, unthinkable
- antonyms:
- possible
- similar words:
- absurd, incredible, preposterous, unimaginable, unlikely, unreasonable
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| definition 3: |
very difficult or intolerable.
By running away, she had put him in an impossible situation.!You're impossible! Why can't you just admit that you're wrong?!- synonyms:
- hopeless, insufferable, intolerable, unbearable
- antonyms:
- bearable, manageable, possible
- similar words:
- difficult, disagreeable, distasteful, inappropriate, objectionable, offensive, unacceptable, unpleasant, unsuitable
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| related words: |
heavy |
adverb + (adj.)impossible
almost,
anatomically,
but,
downright,
flatly,
humanly,
logically,
mathematically,
means,
nearly,
nigh,
nowadays,
physically,
physiologically,
politically,
practically,
scientifically,
seemingly,
technically,
theoretically,
utterly,
virtually,
well-nigh
[See all][See only the most frequent]
(adj.)impossible
+ adverb
accurately
(adj.)impossible
+ noun
angle, dream, feat, fiction, gauge, ideal, odds, perfection, predicament, task
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The word impossible
contains the following parts:
im-2
Latin
prefix
that means not, without
  More about this word part:
The prefix im-2 occurs in Latin loanwords. It is an assimilated form of in-2 used before roots beginning with the letter "m," "p," and "b." See in-2.
Example words:
imbalance, immaculate, immaterial, immature, immediate, immiscible, immobile, immodest, immortal, immovable, immune, immutable, impalpable, impartial, impassable, impatient, impeccable, impecunious, impenitent, imperfect, impermeable, impermissible, impersonal, imperturbable, impervious, implacable, implausible, impolite, imponderable, impossible, impotent, impregnable, improper, impropriety, improvise, imprudent, impudent, impunity, impure
poss, pot
Latin
root
that means able; power
Example words:
-able, -ible, -ble
Latin
adjective-forming suffix
that means capable of being, doing, or undergoing
More about this word part:
The suffix -able
, and its variants, is attached to Latin verb roots or English transitive verbs to form adjectives. (In a small set of cases, -able
is attached to a noun, e.g. knowledgeable and marriageable.) For spelling purposes, it is useful to know that -able
is more likely to be added to a whole English word (comparable
, adorable
), while -ible
is more likely to follow a bound root (visible
, legible
). However,there are still many words which combine a root with -able
(capable
, inevitable
). The suffix -ity can be added to any adjective ending in -able
, -ible
, -ble
to produce a corresponding noun ending in -ability, -ibility, -bility (possible
+ -ity > possibility; irrevocable
+ -ity > irrevocability.)
Example words:
acceptable, accessible, admissible, adorable, amiable, amicable, audible, avoidable, believable, bearable, biodegradable, capable, calculable, cognizable, comparable, compatible, comprehensible, conformable, conversable, convertible, corrigible, credible, creditable, curable, dependable, despicable, disagreeable, disposable, divisible, eligible, explicable, flammable, flexible, illegible, illimitable, imaginable, immiscible, immovable, immutable, impalpable, impassable, impeccable, impermeable, impermissible, imperturbable, implacable, implausible, imponderable, impossible, impregnable, inalienable, inaudible, incapable, incalculable, incommunicable, incomprehensible, inconceivable, detectable, conceivable, incorrigible, incredible, incurable, indefeasible, indelible, indescribable, indestructible, indivisible, indomitable, ineligible, ineluctable, ineradicable, inescapable, inevitable, inexorable, inexpiable, inexplicable, infallible, inhospitable, inimitable, inscrutable, inseparable, insuperable, intangible, interminable, intractable, invaluable, invariable, invincible, invisible, irrefragable, irrefutable, irremissible, irreparable, irreversible, irrevocable, legible, likable, lovable, manageable, measurable, movable, navigable, notable, opposable, palpable, perishable, permissible, placable, portable, possible, potable, predictable, preferable, prescriptible, recognizable, remissible, reprehensible, reversible, risible, semipermeable, sensible, superable, susceptible, tangible, tenable, tolerable, tractable, transmissible, unsupportable, usable, viable, visible, washable, affordable, allowable, reliable, remarkable, approachable, disputable, drinkable, durable, eatable, renewable, sustainable, unshakable
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