becoming impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "becoming impossible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that is increasingly difficult or unfeasible over time. Example: "As the deadline approaches, completing the project on time is becoming impossible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She concluded: And more and more she had become "the First Lady" of the country, more life was becoming impossible for her. . . .

The New Yorker

Doing so is becoming impossible.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's becoming impossible to make money," is a common grumble.

The Economist

"It's becoming impossible to see pictures," she said.

Independent

She was near becoming impossible to take down," he said.

The Guardian

"To run a restaurant, it's becoming impossible," he said.

The New York Times

But the fantastical nature of much public speech is becoming impossible to ignore.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Kenyan officials said it was becoming impossible to coexist with a failed state next door.

The New York Times

Try as Coughlin might, the parallels are becoming impossible to ignore.

The New York Times - Sports

But with climate change it is becoming impossible to make such predictions".

Independent

Draw back the window blinds and the screen fades, becoming impossible to read in direct sunlight.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "becoming impossible" to describe processes or situations that are gradually losing their feasibility. For instance, "As resources dwindled, maintaining the project's original scope was becoming impossible."

Common error

Avoid using "becoming impossible" to describe situations that are already inherently impossible. Instead, reserve it for scenarios where feasibility is diminishing over time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "becoming impossible" functions as a descriptive phrase, often acting as a predicate adjective describing a subject's state of declining feasibility. This is supported by Ludwig AI's analysis of numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "becoming impossible" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a situation that is progressively losing its feasibility. As indicated by Ludwig, its widespread usage across reputable sources, particularly in News & Media, confirms its appropriateness for conveying a growing sense of difficulty or infeasibility. When writing, consider alternatives like "growing unattainable" or "turning unfeasible" to add variety, and avoid using the phrase in situations that are already inherently impossible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

growing unattainable

Emphasizes that a goal or state is moving further out of reach.

turning unfeasible

Highlights the increasing impracticality of an action or plan.

proving unachievable

Focuses on the demonstration that something cannot be accomplished.

getting hopeless

Indicates a decline in optimism regarding a situation's outcome.

verging on infeasible

Suggests the situation is nearing a state of impracticality.

approaching unworkable

Highlights the movement toward a state where something is no longer functional.

developing into unfeasible

Focuses on the gradual transition towards impracticality.

shifting to unachievable

Emphasizes the change in status towards being impossible to attain.

descending into untenable

Implies a decline towards a state that cannot be defended or maintained.

evolving into insuperable

Highlights the emergence of difficulties that cannot be overcome.

FAQs

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

Use "becoming impossible" to describe something that is increasingly difficult to achieve or maintain. For example: "With the rising costs, it's "becoming impossible" to afford a house in this city."

What can I say instead of "becoming impossible"?

You can use alternatives like "growing unattainable", "turning unfeasible", or "proving unachievable" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "become impossible" instead of "becoming impossible"?

"Become impossible" refers to a state that is reached at a specific point in time, while "becoming impossible" describes a gradual process. For example, "The task has become impossible" suggests that it is no longer feasible, while "The task is "becoming impossible"" indicates that the feasibility is decreasing over time.

What's the difference between "becoming impossible" and "increasingly difficult"?

"Becoming impossible" implies that something is approaching a state where it cannot be done at all, whereas "increasingly difficult" suggests that it's getting harder, but still potentially achievable. The first denotes a loss of feasibility, the second denotes a rise in obstacles.