is hardly impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

"is hardly impossible" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something is almost (or completely) impossible to do. For example: "Solving this problem in the allotted time is hardly impossible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It is hardly impossible to find more money for infrastructure.

The Economist

Countries remain armed and hostile, so war is hardly impossible.

The New York Times

That is unlikely for the moment given Congressional dysfunction, as the justices certainly knew, but it is hardly impossible in the months and years to come.

The New York Times

It will be interesting to see if the American public actually supports this once they see the results (no more cheap gardeners, no more cheap vegetables, etc)., but the basic idea is hardly impossible to implement.

The New York Times

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Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Qaddafi had been despised in the Arab world for decades; support in the region for his removal was hardly impossible to conjure.

The New Yorker

But it's hardly impossible: the Sox played.611 ball 99-633) from start to finish in 2005, their World Series year.

The New York Times - Sports

Last week against New England, he found Jake Ballard on the winning touchdown pass with 15 seconds remaining; two scores with more than 12 minutes to play was hardly impossible.

The New York Times - Sports

Celebration in this case was overwhelming, but there were a few questions raised about the bland rejection of the principle of presumption of innocence, particularly when trial was hardly impossible.

The Guardian - Opinion

Learning to mono-task in an über-busy culture that promotes, and even celebrates, multitasking, can be challenging but it's hardly impossible.

Forbes

It is just impossible".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is hardly impossible" to convey that something is difficult but not entirely out of reach, suggesting a challenge that can potentially be overcome.

Common error

Avoid using "is hardly impossible" when you intend to express that something is highly probable or easy. This phrase implies difficulty, so ensure your intent aligns with this nuance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is hardly impossible" functions as an evaluative expression, indicating that something is challenging but not entirely out of reach. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct. It suggests a situation where success is attainable despite difficulties.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is hardly impossible" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that indicates something is difficult but not entirely unattainable. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It functions as an evaluative statement, conveying a sense of challenge coupled with potential success. While its usage isn't widespread, appearing rarely across various sources like News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, it serves to temper expectations without completely dismissing possibility. When using this phrase, ensure your intent aligns with the nuance of acknowledging difficulty while maintaining optimism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is barely possible

Changes the emphasis to the minimal possibility of something occurring.

is nearly possible

Indicates something is close to being possible, but not quite.

is almost achievable

Focuses on the potential for accomplishment, implying difficulty.

is remotely possible

Suggests a very slight chance of something happening.

is just about doable

Implies something is barely within the realm of possibility or capability.

is barely conceivable

Shifts focus towards the limited ability to imagine something happening.

is technically feasible

Focuses on the technical aspects of whether something can be done, often implying difficulty.

is theoretically possible

Highlights that something aligns with theory but may be impractical.

is not entirely out of the question

Emphasizes a consideration of possibility, even if unlikely.

is within the realm of possibility

Indicates that something falls inside what might be possible, though perhaps improbable.

FAQs

What does "is hardly impossible" mean?

The phrase "is hardly impossible" suggests that something is difficult but not completely out of reach. It implies that although challenging, success is still attainable.

When is it appropriate to use "is hardly impossible"?

Use "is hardly impossible" when you want to convey that something is difficult or unlikely but still within the realm of possibility. It's suitable when you want to acknowledge the challenges involved but also maintain a sense of optimism.

What are some alternatives to "is hardly impossible"?

You can use alternatives like "is barely possible", "is nearly possible", or "is almost achievable" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does "is hardly impossible" compare to "is almost impossible"?

"Is hardly impossible" suggests a slightly higher degree of possibility compared to "is almost impossible". While both phrases imply difficulty, "is hardly impossible" leaves more room for optimism and potential success.