considered impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

"considered impossible" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing something that is widely regarded as unachievable or unrealistic. For example: "The task was considered impossible by many experts." Alternative expressions include "deemed impossible" and "regarded as impossible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Things that were yesterday considered impossible are today being discussed.

The Guardian

This was a feat considered impossible before Fortran.

The New York Times

It is also about doing something they once considered impossible.

The New York Times

He figured out how to make workable quantum circuits on silicon a feat previously considered impossible.

MIT Technology Review

But hardly anyone fishes for them because they are widely considered impossible to catch.

The Guardian

Reunions alter our relationship with the past, making feasible experiences that were once considered impossible.

The Guardian - Music

Women who can feel sexual pleasure are considered impossible to control and so are unmarriageable.

The New York Times

And in the end, it destroyed Lilco, a company where failure was long considered impossible.

The New York Times

Bigger and bigger jumps have allowed riders to push for tricks that were considered impossible.

The Guardian - Sport

(A resolution was considered impossible to pass, as indeed it was).

The New Yorker

It is considered impossible to actually look for work in Japan; the work just arrives.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the phrase immediately after the noun it modifies or as a subject complement to maintain clarity and impact.

Common error

Writers often mistakenly insert 'as' to form 'considered as impossible'. While occasionally used, it is generally considered clunky and less idiomatic than the direct "considered impossible".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "considered impossible" functions as a participle phrase that typically acts as a subject complement or a post-positive modifier. According to Ludwig AI, it is frequently used to characterize a state of affairs that has been evaluated by an external observer or the general public. It relies on the passive voice of the verb 'consider' to lend an air of objectivity to the claim.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "considered impossible" is a powerhouse of English prose, particularly effective in narratives concerning innovation, scientific discovery and historical change. Analysis by Ludwig AI reveals that it is most frequently used to describe feats or goals that were once dismissed but have since been realized. It maintains a high level of formality and is widely accepted across all major writing sectors, from The New York Times to prestigious academic journals. Writers should favor this direct construction over the more redundant 'considered as impossible' to maintain a sleek, professional tone. Ultimately, it serves as a linguistic bridge between past skepticism and present reality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deemed unachievable

shirks the passive 'considered' for a more decisive 'deemed' and replaces 'impossible' with a goal-oriented adjective

thought unattainable

suggests a collective mindset or belief rather than a formal assessment

judged infeasible

shifts focus toward technical or practical limitations rather than absolute impossibility

perceived as unviable

often used in business or biological contexts to suggest a lack of sustainability

viewed as unattainable

adds a prepositional bridge and emphasizes the perception of the subject

labeled as unworkable

implies a more critical or dismissive categorization

seen as insurmountable

specifically refers to obstacles that are perceived as too great to overcome

regarded as inconceivable

intensifies the degree of impossibility to something that cannot even be imagined

dismissed as unfeasible

carries a connotation that the idea was rejected without deep consideration

reckoned as hopeless

introduces a more emotional or desperate tone to the impossibility

FAQs

What can I say instead of "considered impossible"?

You can use alternatives like "deemed unachievable", "thought to be unattainable" or "viewed as infeasible" depending on your specific context.

Is "considered impossible" formal enough for an academic paper?

Yes, it is highly appropriate for formal writing. Ludwig AI shows frequent usage in publications from "Harvard University" and "Science Magazine" to describe breakthroughs.

What is the difference between "considered impossible" and "deemed impossible"?

While nearly interchangeable, "deemed impossible" often implies a more official or authoritative judgment, whereas "considered impossible" refers to a general consensus or common belief.

Can I use "considered impossible" to describe a person?

It is typically used for tasks, goals, feats or situations. To describe a person's behavior, you might prefer "difficult to deal with" or "unmanageable".