extremely impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extremely impossible" is not technically correct because it is redundant; something is either impossible or it is not.
However, it is often used anyway in informal speech or writing. For example: I heard that she was trying to pass the test, but it seemed extremely impossible.

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Some would say extremely impossible.

The New York Times - Sports

"Then I moved to thinking of it as extremely impossible.

The New York Times

The imposed conditions are extremely impossible for an asphalt core in dams in reality and therefore the so-call "hydraulic fracturing" may be excluded.

Construction and Building Materials

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Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The patients were asked to grade their usual headache intensity as mild (maintaining normal activities without problems), moderate (maintaining normal activities with difficulty), severe (must give up normal activities and lie down) or extremely severe (impossible to stay still).

The Journal of Headache and Pain

"I remember that the concerto seemed to us to be extremely difficult, almost impossible to perform".

The New York Times - Arts

Dispersing refugees across France will make monitoring procedural inadequacies, and delivering aid, extremely difficult to impossible to achieve.

The Guardian - Opinion

"This stems from the fact that identification of an early malignant lesion is often extremely difficult, sometimes impossible, especially in fibrocystic breast tissue.

The New York Times

In any case, doctors may never determine whether a slip of the needle made a difference, because even at autopsy the trajectory of the needle would be extremely difficult, even impossible, to trace.

The New York Times - Health

However, in many cases capturing and correctly applying individual information needs is extremely difficult, even impossible.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

It is extremely difficult, even impossible, to repair or replace these malfunctioning devices on orbit.

Robotics and Biomimetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "extremely impossible" is sometimes used, consider using alternatives like "utterly impossible" or "completely unachievable" for clearer and more impactful writing.

Common error

Avoid stacking intensifiers. Using both "extremely" and "impossible" can sound redundant. Choose the strongest word that accurately reflects the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extremely impossible" functions as an intensified adjective phrase, attempting to emphasize the impossibility of a situation. Ludwig AI shows that this phrase, while used, is often considered redundant, as 'impossible' already implies the highest degree of negation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "extremely impossible" is an intensified adjective phrase used to emphasize the infeasibility of something. While understandable, Ludwig AI points out that it's technically redundant, as 'impossible' already represents the highest degree. It appears more frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts, though its inherent informality makes it less suitable for formal academic writing. Alternatives like "utterly impossible" or "completely unachievable" offer clearer and more impactful phrasing. Therefore, while its usage isn't strictly incorrect, writers should exercise caution and consider more precise alternatives for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly impossible

Emphasizes impossibility to a complete degree.

completely unachievable

Focuses on the lack of feasibility.

absolutely unattainable

Highlights the inability to reach a desired outcome.

totally out of the question

Indicates a firm rejection or impossibility.

virtually insurmountable

Suggests a challenge that is almost impossible to overcome.

near hopeless

Implies a minimal chance of success.

realistically undoable

Focuses on the practical impossibility.

in all likelihood unworkable

Emphasizes the lack of practicality or feasibility.

practically unfeasible

Highlights the impracticality of the situation.

scarcely achievable

Emphasizes the difficulty in achieving the result.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "extremely impossible"?

While commonly understood, "extremely impossible" is technically redundant as something is either impossible or it isn't. Consider using stronger single words or phrases like "utterly impossible" or "completely unachievable".

What can I say instead of "extremely impossible"?

You can use alternatives like "utterly impossible", "completely unachievable", or "absolutely unattainable" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "extremely impossible" or "nearly impossible"?

"Nearly impossible" suggests a high degree of difficulty but not absolute impossibility. "Extremely impossible" is redundant; using just "impossible" or "utterly impossible" is clearer.

What's the difference between "extremely difficult" and "extremely impossible"?

"Extremely difficult" means something is very hard to do. "Extremely impossible", while sometimes used, is redundant. "Impossible" already implies the highest degree of difficulty; it cannot be made more impossible. Consider rephrasing to maintain clarity.