almost impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

'almost impossible' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is very difficult, or nearly impossible, to do. For example: "Getting into medical school is almost impossible without the right credentials."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is almost impossible.

The New York Times - Arts

That's almost impossible".

The New York Times

It becomes almost impossible".

The New York Times - Sports

I think it's almost impossible.

The New Yorker

It's almost impossible to say.

Independent

— that makes adjustment almost impossible.

The New York Times

History says it's almost impossible".

The New York Times - Sports

It's almost impossible to assemble".

Independent

For some, it's almost impossible.

The New York Times

Second takes were almost impossible.

The New York Times

Communication would be almost impossible.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost impossible" to convey a situation where success is highly unlikely but not entirely out of the question. This allows for a nuanced perspective, acknowledging the difficulty while leaving room for potential, albeit improbable, positive outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "almost impossible" when the situation is truly impossible. Using it in such cases can weaken your argument and make you seem less precise in your language. If something is definitively not possible, state it directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost impossible" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It serves to qualify the degree of difficulty associated with an action or state, indicating that something is exceedingly challenging but not entirely beyond reach.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost impossible" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that conveys a high degree of difficulty or improbability. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment, highlighting its wide usage across diverse contexts such as news, science, and general writing. While various alternatives exist, such as "virtually unattainable" or "nearly unachievable", "almost impossible" remains a versatile choice for expressing situations where success is highly unlikely but not entirely out of the question. When using this phrase, ensure that the situation isn't truly impossible, as that would constitute an overstatement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually unattainable

Emphasizes the difficulty in achieving a goal, suggesting it's nearly out of reach.

nearly unachievable

Highlights the improbability of accomplishing something.

borderline infeasible

Implies that something is close to not being practical or viable.

practically insurmountable

Focuses on the difficulty in overcoming an obstacle, suggesting it's almost impossible to overcome.

close to unimaginable

Indicates something is very difficult to conceive or believe.

hardly feasible

Suggests a low likelihood of something being successfully carried out.

approaching impossibility

Highlights that something is nearing a state where it cannot be done.

nigh unworkable

Indicates something is nearly impossible to put into practice.

next to hopeless

Emphasizes the lack of hope or chance of success.

as good as undoable

Informal way to say something is essentially impossible.

FAQs

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

You can use "almost impossible" to describe tasks or situations that are extremely difficult to achieve or overcome. For example, "It's "almost impossible" to find an apartment in New York City on a small budget."

What are some alternatives to "almost impossible"?

Alternatives include "virtually unattainable", "nearly unachievable", or "practically insurmountable". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of difficulty you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "nigh impossible"?

Yes, "nigh impossible" is a valid, though somewhat archaic, alternative to "almost impossible". It carries the same meaning of something being close to impossible.

What's the difference between "almost impossible" and "completely impossible"?

"Almost impossible" suggests a very low probability of success, but still acknowledges a theoretical chance. "Completely impossible", on the other hand, indicates that something is entirely out of the realm of possibility and cannot happen under any circumstances.