desire for impossibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "desire for impossibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a longing or yearning for something that is unattainable or unrealistic. Example: "Her desire for impossibility often led her to dream of worlds that could never exist."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It's about the desire for impossibility.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Challenge is not a codeword for impossibility.

The Guardian

The best known argument for impossibility concerns the timing of causal effects.

SEP

"And by the same token," he said, " 'The Blair Witch Project,' " with its handmade pseudo-documentary feel, "is going to look a lot clearer to us as a product of a moment in an information culture where the desire for the real is just as intense as its impossibility".

The New York Times

But he recognizes also the impossibility of ever fully possessing Albertine: "My desire for her was desire for her whole life: a desire that was full of pain, because I sensed it was unattainable".

The New York Times - Books

That thwack is a burning desire for the unattainable, as you propel yourself full force towards an impossibility.

Vice

They signal a growing recognition of the impossibility of governing a territory as large as England from within the apparatus of Whitehall and the desire for a more responsive and locally rooted form of governance.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Your desire for knowledge.

The New York Times - Books

The desire for independence?

The New York Times

A desire for control.

The New Yorker

Our desire for control?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "desire for impossibility" to articulate a yearning for something inherently unattainable, often reflecting a deeper sense of longing or idealism. It is most effective in literary or philosophical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "desire for impossibility" in mundane situations. The phrase carries a weight that can seem overly dramatic or out of place if used inappropriately. Consider more straightforward language when describing simple wants or needs.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "desire for impossibility" functions as a noun phrase. It encapsulates a complex emotional state, where "desire" acts as the head noun and "for impossibility" specifies the object of that desire. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a valid English phrase, though relatively uncommon.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "desire for impossibility" is a grammatically correct, albeit uncommon, English phrase used to express a yearning for something inherently unattainable. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, but its relatively rare occurrence suggests careful consideration of context. Primarily found in News & Media and Scientific sources, the phrase is most effective in philosophical or reflective writing where abstract concepts and deep emotional longings are explored. When aiming for similar expression in general contexts, consider alternatives such as "yearning for the unattainable" or "longing for the impossible".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yearning for the unattainable

Replaces "desire" with "yearning" to emphasize a deep longing, and "impossibility" with "unattainable" to highlight the lack of realism.

longing for the impossible

Substitutes "desire" with "longing", which also conveys a strong feeling of wanting, and uses "impossible" instead of "impossibility".

craving for what cannot be

Replaces "desire" with "craving", indicating an intense want, and uses a more poetic expression "what cannot be" instead of "impossibility".

desire for the unrealistic

Replaces "impossibility" with the adjective form "unrealistic", focusing on the disconnect from reality.

pursuit of the unachievable

Shifts the focus to the action of pursuing something, using "unachievable" to describe the unattainable goal.

yearning for the unfeasible

Emphasizes the impractical nature of the desire by using "unfeasible" in place of "impossibility".

longing for a fantasy

Conveys the idea that the desire is for something existing only in imagination, rather than reality.

wish for the undoable

Highlights the impractical nature by using "undoable", meaning something that cannot be done.

ambition for the insurmountable

Focuses on the scale of the challenge and replaces desire with ambition to suggest something proactively engaged.

quest for the unattainable dream

Specifies that the impossibility is related to a dream, indicating a hopeful but unrealistic aspiration.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "desire for impossibility" in a sentence?

The phrase "desire for impossibility" is best used to describe a longing for something that is inherently unattainable, often highlighting a sense of idealism or a deep emotional yearning. For instance, "His desire for impossibility fueled his artistic expression, pushing him to create worlds beyond reality."

What are some alternatives to "desire for impossibility"?

You can use alternatives like "yearning for the unattainable", "longing for the impossible", or "pursuit of the unachievable" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "desire for impossibility" grammatically correct?

Yes, "desire for impossibility" is grammatically correct. It functions as a noun phrase, where "desire" is the noun and "for impossibility" acts as a prepositional phrase modifying it.

What's the difference between "desire for impossibility" and "desire for something impossible"?

While both phrases express a similar concept, "desire for impossibility" is more abstract and emphasizes the inherent nature of the unattainable, while "desire for something impossible" is more specific and focuses on a particular object or outcome that cannot be achieved.