absolutely impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

"absolutely impossible" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to emphasize that something is completely or totally impossible, without any chance of it happening. Example: It is absolutely impossible for pigs to fly.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's absolutely impossible.

University of California, Berkeley

"It's absolutely impossible".

The New York Times

It is absolutely impossible.

The New York Times

"Absolutely impossible," he scoffs.

The New York Times

I told him that was absolutely impossible.

The New Yorker

To some people it is absolutely impossible".

The Guardian - Books

(ohohcheri) Being taken seriously was absolutely impossible.

The Guardian

"Everyone said it's absolutely impossible to adapt Virginia Woolf.

The New York Times

It's absolutely impossible to record over previous images by accident.

The New York Times - Tech

Thus it was absolutely impossible for anyone to wear it!

The Guardian - Books

"It's absolutely impossible for a surprise to occur".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely impossible" to emphasize the impossibility of a situation or action, leaving no room for doubt. For instance, "It's "absolutely impossible" to predict the future with certainty."

Common error

While "absolutely impossible" is acceptable, be mindful of using it in overly casual settings where simpler phrases like "not possible" or "unlikely" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely impossible" functions as an intensifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun to emphasize the impossibility of a situation or action. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "absolutely impossible" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to emphasize that something is completely out of the question. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It’s most commonly found in news, academic, and encyclopedia contexts. While effective for adding emphasis, consider the register and avoid overuse in casual settings. Related phrases include "utterly unattainable" and "completely unachievable". When used appropriately, "absolutely impossible" effectively conveys the complete infeasibility of something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

totally out of the question

Indicates that something is not worth considering due to its impossibility.

in no way possible

Emphasizes that there is no manner or method by which something can occur.

beyond the realm of possibility

Highlights that something exceeds what is possible or conceivable.

completely unachievable

Highlights the lack of possibility in achieving a specific goal.

definitely not a possibility

Firmly states that something cannot happen.

utterly unattainable

Emphasizes the impossibility of reaching or achieving something.

entirely unfeasible

Focuses on the impracticality and impossibility of implementing something.

certainly unworkable

Focuses on the impossibility of something functioning or being effective.

patently impossible

Stresses the obvious and evident nature of the impossibility.

simply not doable

Offers a more informal way of saying something is impossible to do.

FAQs

How can I use "absolutely impossible" in a sentence?

Use "absolutely impossible" to emphasize the complete impossibility of something. For example: "It is "absolutely impossible" for me to finish this project by tomorrow."

What phrases are similar to "absolutely impossible"?

You can use alternatives like "completely unachievable", "totally out of the question", or "entirely unfeasible" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "absolutely impossible" too strong for some situations?

Yes, in less critical situations, consider using milder terms like "highly unlikely" or "not feasible". The strength of "absolutely impossible" should match the context.

What's the difference between "impossible" and "absolutely impossible"?

"Absolutely impossible" intensifies the meaning of "impossible", emphasizing a complete lack of possibility. While "impossible" states that something cannot be done, "absolutely impossible" underscores that it's beyond any possibility.