it seems unachievable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it seems unachievable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing doubt or skepticism about the feasibility of a goal or task. Example: "After reviewing the project requirements, it seems unachievable to meet the deadline with the current resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"It seems unachievable.

The New York Times - Sports

It seems unachievable before the July monsoon, which pushes polls back to the final quarter of 2007.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It's an Australian trait to fight to achieve something that seems unachievable.

The New York Times

We might further define that person as a "rogue" in his refusal to participate in the community of nations, so that diplomatic and nonviolent restraint of his actions seems unachievable.

The New York Times

Two-thirds of the Polish public currently oppose this, and relinquishing the zloty would require a constitutional change that for the moment seems unachievable.Janusz Jankowiak, chief economist of the Polish Business Roundtable, a pro-business lobby group, is optimistic about Poland's prospects for the rest of this decade but more doubtful about the longer term.

The Economist

Perfect security seems unachievable for empirical cover sources, examples of which are digital images.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

As for the skepticism surrounding Uber's lofty $120 billion valuation, the eye-popping figure seems unachievable considering the company isn't profitable and has and continues to burn through cash.

TechCrunch

The World Bank Group's interim target of reducing poverty to single digits by 2020 seems unachievable, unless some drastic measures or policies being formulate to take the challenges by the respective countries.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

While this goal may seem unachievable without suffering an undesirable trade-off, it is part of a well-established group of mathematical transformations used in the field of signal processing termed wavelet theory [19, 20].

Heritage Science

Ms. Kelly said recently that home-buying, for those employed in the arts in New York, could often seem unachievable.

The New York Times

For example, a person will stop comparing himself or herself to others if the others are much more capable than the comparer, because the task of matching or competing will seem unachievable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it seems unachievable", clearly state the goal or task you are referring to so the context is unambiguous. For example, "With current technology, interstellar travel it seems unachievable within the next century".

Common error

Avoid using "it seems unachievable" when you actually mean it is completely impossible. The phrase implies a degree of uncertainty or doubt, not absolute impossibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it seems unachievable" functions as a subjective assessment, expressing an opinion or perception about the feasibility of something. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates doubt but doesn't necessarily imply complete impossibility. Examples from Ludwig support its role in evaluating goals and plans.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it seems unachievable" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey doubt about the feasibility of a goal, as stated by Ludwig AI. While not exceedingly common, it finds its place in diverse contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific discussions. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various forms of communication, and alternative phrases like "it appears unattainable" or "it looks impossible" can provide nuanced alternatives. When employing this phrase, writers should focus on specifying the goal and avoid overstating certainty. Ludwig's analysis, supported by a variety of sources, paints a clear picture of its appropriate usage and contextual relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it appears unattainable

Changes 'seems' to 'appears' and 'unachievable' to 'unattainable', slightly altering the tone but maintaining the core meaning.

it looks impossible

Replaces 'seems unachievable' with a more direct assertion of impossibility.

it feels unrealistic

Shifts from objective assessment to subjective feeling of unreality.

it strikes me as impractical

Introduces a personal viewpoint ('strikes me') and focuses on the impracticality of the idea.

it gives the impression of being unworkable

Uses a more formal and descriptive structure to convey the sense of being unworkable.

it is viewed as infeasible

Presents the unachievability as a widely held opinion ('is viewed') and uses the term 'infeasible'.

it is hardly viable

Uses the word 'hardly' and replaces 'unachievable' with 'viable', suggesting that success is unlikely.

it is difficult to imagine it happening

Expresses the unachievability through the difficulty of imagining its realization.

achieving it seems out of reach

Focuses on the 'achieving' aspect and suggests it is beyond reach.

the likelihood of success appears minimal

Rephrases the sentence by focusing on the 'likelihood of success' being very low.

FAQs

How can I use "it seems unachievable" in a sentence?

Use "it seems unachievable" to express the idea that a goal or task is unlikely to be accomplished, but not necessarily impossible. For example, "Reaching a global consensus on climate change /s/seems+unachievable given the current political climate".

What are some alternatives to "it seems unachievable"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it appears unattainable", "it looks impossible", or "it feels unrealistic", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "it seems unachievable" in formal writing?

Yes, "it seems unachievable" is appropriate for formal writing, but consider stronger, more precise language (like "infeasible" or "impractical") if greater certainty is required. The phrase "it seems unachievable" adds nuance that the writer is expressing his/her opinion.

What is the difference between "it seems unachievable" and "it is impossible"?

"It seems unachievable" suggests a strong doubt about the possibility of success, whereas "it is impossible" asserts that something cannot be done under any circumstances. The former is less definitive.