it felt impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it felt impossible" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a sense of overwhelming difficulty or a lack of belief in the possibility of achieving something. Example: "When I first attempted to climb the mountain, it felt impossible to reach the summit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Increasingly, we spent more and more time alone in our apartment, canceling plans with friends and colleagues, to whom it felt impossible to explain what was going on.

The New York Times

And though we - her family and friends - had heard it was terminal, we had carried on with our lives during the following week because it felt impossible to accept.

Independent

The understanding had been that after Ishii joined us I could interview them together, but they seemed to be operating on such different premises that, for a moment, it felt impossible to address even one sentence to them both.

The New Yorker

She's brave to characterize the modern female condition as equally bewildering and empowering: "They were the first generation of women," one character notes, "whose struggle with choice had nothing to do with getting it and everything to do with having too much of it — there were so many options that it felt impossible and exhausting to pick the right ones".

The New York Times - Books

It felt impossible they'd have an understanding of our culture".

Los Angeles Times

During his captivity from 2009-2011, it felt impossible to move forward.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

You reach a point where it feels impossible to survive another day.

The New York Times

I only ever felt able to go out with my husband and now it feels impossible.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it feels impossible to talk about this: it is beyond the paintings themselves.

The Guardian - Arts

"It feels impossible right now to pay off our bills," said Michelle Spurlock, 28, her voice breaking.

The New York Times

Part of the explanation is that parliamentary rebellion, rather like adultery, is habit-forming: at first it feels impossible, then transgressive and finally mundane.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it felt impossible" to convey a strong sense of hopelessness or extreme difficulty, especially when reflecting on past experiences or situations.

Common error

Avoid using "it felt impossible" for minor inconveniences or easily solvable problems. Reserve it for situations that genuinely evoke a sense of overwhelming challenge or despair.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it felt impossible" functions as a descriptive statement, expressing a subjective feeling or perception about a situation or task. Ludwig confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it felt impossible" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a subjective feeling of overwhelming difficulty or hopelessness. Ludwig confirms its correct usage, supported by numerous examples from news and media sources. While there are several alternatives, such as "it seemed unattainable" or "it appeared unachievable", the original phrase effectively conveys a personal perception of impossibility. When using the phrase, it's important to reserve it for situations that genuinely evoke a strong sense of challenge or despair, avoiding overuse in trivial contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it seemed unattainable

Emphasizes the idea that something was beyond reach or impossible to achieve.

it appeared unachievable

Highlights the lack of possibility of achieving something based on its appearance or initial assessment.

it was deemed undoable

Focuses on a judgment or decision that something could not be done.

it looked insurmountable

Stresses the idea that something seemed to have no solution or way to overcome it.

it presented an impossible challenge

Highlights the nature of the situation as an challenge too difficult to face.

it proved too difficult

Indicates that something was attempted but turned out to be too hard to complete.

it struck me as infeasible

Expresses a personal assessment of something not being practical or viable.

it was beyond my capabilities

Attributes the impossibility to a lack of personal skills or abilities.

it defied all attempts

Highlights a situation where something resisted all efforts to deal with it.

it resisted every effort

Indicates a persistent resistance to any kind of intervention or action.

FAQs

How can I use "it felt impossible" in a sentence?

You can use "it felt impossible" to describe a situation or task that seemed extremely difficult or unattainable at the time. For example, "When I started the marathon, "it felt impossible" to finish".

What are some alternatives to "it felt impossible"?

Some alternatives include "it seemed unattainable", "it appeared unachievable", or "it looked insurmountable", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it felt impossible" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it felt impossible" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb "feel" with the pronoun "it" and the adjective "impossible" to describe a past sensation or perception.

What's the difference between "it felt impossible" and "it seemed impossible"?

While both phrases are similar, "it felt impossible" emphasizes a personal, emotional perception of impossibility, while "it seemed impossible" suggests a more objective assessment or appearance. For example, ""it felt impossible" because I was scared", versus "it seemed impossible based on the available resources".