impossible to grasp

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "impossible to grasp" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is difficult or impossible to understand or comprehend. Example: "The concept of infinity can often feel impossible to grasp for many people."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

It's almost impossible to grasp that she's still only 18.

Independent

The distance to Mars is almost impossible to grasp.

The Guardian

"It's impossible to grasp," says Burnham, "because [my audience] is just numbers on a screen.

The Guardian

As much as it is accessible, it is also impossible to grasp.

The Guardian - Music

It's still impossible to grasp that you are not here with us and that life was so unfair to you.

The New York Times

It seems appropriate that a chapter of history almost impossible to grasp would present impossible challenges, especially for young children.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

She said this was an impossible concept to grasp; there was no such thing in her world.

Vice

He packed in eight shots, which made watching the Vine a complex and satisfying experience, but one so dizzying it was impossible to simultaneously grasp the story, the emotional arc, all three black stereotypes, and the final joke.

The New Yorker

Perhaps it is impossible to fully grasp the mixture of friendship and animosity, suspicion and mistrust between my grandfather and the mufti's son — the complexities of a relationship that transcended not only communal and religious differences but also the rift of genocide.

The New Yorker

It may be impossible to fully grasp the extraordinary harm this punitive policy has done in 40 years.

Huffington Post

But even if it's impossible to truly grasp his reasoning from afar, it seems like the same sort of illogic that afflicted his fellow billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who was mulling a presidential run in 2016 and apparently thought he would beat Bernie Sanders and Trump in the Midwest and parts of the South in a hypothetical matchup.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "impossible to grasp" when you want to emphasize the extreme difficulty in understanding something, often due to its complexity or abstract nature. For instance, "The scale of the universe is impossible to grasp."

Common error

Avoid using "impossible to grasp" for situations where something is merely difficult but not fundamentally beyond understanding. Opt for simpler alternatives like "hard to understand" for everyday complexities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impossible to grasp" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used as an adjective modifying a noun. It indicates that something is extremely difficult or fundamentally unable to be understood, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "impossible to grasp" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe something extremely difficult or fundamentally beyond understanding. Ludwig's AI analysis confirms its usability and provides numerous examples across diverse sources, including News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. While alternatives like "difficult to comprehend" or "hard to understand" exist, "impossible to grasp" emphasizes a higher degree of incomprehensibility. When writing, use it to convey a sense of being overwhelmed by complexity, but avoid overuse in simple contexts. Its frequent occurrence in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian indicates its acceptance in formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to comprehend

Emphasizes the difficulty in understanding something.

hard to understand

A more straightforward way of expressing the difficulty in understanding.

beyond comprehension

Indicates that something is outside the realm of understanding.

incomprehensible

Highlights the lack of ability to understand something.

unfathomable

Suggests that something is too deep or complex to be understood.

elusive

Emphasizes that something is hard to capture or define.

difficult to fathom

Highlights difficulty in understanding or discovering the meaning.

not easily understood

States directly that something is not simple to understand.

beyond one's ken

Indicates that something is outside one's range of knowledge or understanding.

enigmatic

Highlights the mysterious and puzzling nature of something.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is "impossible to grasp"?

It means that something is extremely difficult or fundamentally beyond one's ability to understand or comprehend fully. It suggests a level of complexity or abstraction that makes understanding nearly unattainable.

What can I say instead of "impossible to grasp"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to comprehend", "hard to understand", or "beyond comprehension" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "difficult to grasp" or "impossible to grasp"?

"Difficult to grasp" suggests a high level of complexity, but still attainable with effort. "Impossible to grasp" indicates the concept is fundamentally beyond understanding. Choose based on the degree of difficulty you want to convey.

How to use "impossible to grasp" in a sentence?

Use "impossible to grasp" to describe concepts or situations that are extremely challenging to understand. For example: "The sheer number of stars in the galaxy is "impossible to grasp"."