insoluble

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "insoluble" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that cannot be solved or resolved, often in the context of problems or issues. Example: "The committee faced an insoluble dilemma regarding the budget cuts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Prisons in the war zone represent an insoluble problem, he said, as it's not clear who the authorities in Kiev should be negotiating with.

The Guardian

Christiansen admits to feeling a little overwhelmed by the scale and seemingly insoluble nature of the problem, but believes education is key.

The Guardian

Too pessimistic and it might simply turn its back on a problem it sees as insoluble.

The Economist

AMID the joy of the Arab awakening, the most stubbornly insoluble of all the Middle East's problems, the argument between Jews and Arabs over the Holy Land, seemed almost forgotten and perhaps better shelved for the next few years.

The Economist

The officer assures his men that this incident "will be forgotten"—which may be the filmmakers' oblique way of acknowledging that it never actually happened.Whether or not art has a duty to be historically accurate is an old and insoluble question.

The Economist

It was the first time she had spoken so clearly, so publicly.In this section Cheese-eating warriors A new Ostpolitik Intractable or insoluble?

The Economist

That is, they incorporate crystals of insoluble inorganic salts, most often calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate, in a matrix of protein.

The Economist

The 41-year-old Mr Salvini has all but ditched Mr Bossi's (never very convincing) Northern separatism to focus the League almost exclusively on causes dear to the European far right, represented by Marine Le Pen's National Front in France.In this section Cheese-eating warriors A new Ostpolitik Intractable or insoluble?

The Economist

But the United States has always been wary of this quagmire, where the 18,000-strong FARC is only one of three illegal groups involved, along with Colombia's armed forces, in a seemingly insoluble civil war.

The Economist

But conflating the problems of the Gulf and of the West Bank is the surest way to make both insoluble.

The Economist

Dr Jackson argues that the oceans are becoming dominated by microbes, toxic algal blooms, jellyfish and disease.Yet these are not insoluble problems.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing chemical substances, use "insoluble" to specifically denote the inability to dissolve in a particular solvent. For abstract problems, consider synonyms like "unsolvable" or "irresolvable" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "insoluble" when a problem is merely difficult but not definitively impossible to solve. Overusing "insoluble" can weaken your argument, since it implies no solution exists. Instead, use adjectives like "challenging" or "complex".

Linguistic Context

The adjective "insoluble" primarily functions to describe a noun as being impossible to solve or dissolve. This is supported by the examples provided by Ludwig, which consistently use "insoluble" to modify nouns such as "problem", "conflict", and "substance".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "insoluble" is a versatile term used to describe something that cannot be solved or dissolved. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. While it accurately describes conditions defying solution, it is advisable to avoid using "insoluble" when issues are just challenging but not definitively unsolvable. Alternatives such as ""unsolvable"" and ""irresolvable"" offer similar meanings, with careful consideration of the context ensuring clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsolvable

Direct synonym replacing "insoluble" to describe a problem that cannot be solved.

irresolvable

Similar to "unsolvable", emphasizing the impossibility of finding a resolution.

not able to be solved

A more verbose version that breaks down the meaning of "insoluble".

unfixable

Informal synonym indicating that something cannot be repaired or corrected.

insusceptible to solution

Formal alternative indicating that the problem is not open to any solution.

beyond solution

More descriptive way to express that a problem is impossible to solve.

unamenable to resolution

Similar to 'insusceptible to solution', but with a slightly different connotation about its management.

defying resolution

Suggests the problem actively resists attempts to resolve it.

permanently unsolved

Emphasizes that the problem is not only unsolved but likely to remain so.

indissoluble

While primarily meaning unbreakable, it can imply a problem that cannot be taken apart or resolved.

FAQs

What does "insoluble" mean?

In general terms, "insoluble" means something that cannot be dissolved or solved. It can refer to both physical substances and abstract problems.

How can I use "insoluble" in a sentence?

You can use "insoluble" to describe a problem that has no solution: "The political situation seemed "unsolvable"" or a substance that does not dissolve: "The compound is "unfixable" in water".

What are some synonyms for "insoluble"?

Alternatives to "insoluble" include "unsolvable", "irresolvable", "unfixable", or "beyond solution", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "insoluble" to describe a person?

While technically you could describe a person's behavior or attitude as "insoluble" in a metaphorical sense, it's not common usage. It's better to use adjectives that specifically describe a person's character, such as "unyielding" or "stubborn".