made it impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

"made it impossible" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which an action or event has prevented another action or event from happening. For example, "The heavy snowfall through the night made it impossible to leave the house in the morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

American gunfire would have made it impossible.

The New Yorker

Has the internet made it impossible to be objective?

The New York Times

Two revelations about Mr Montesinos made it impossible.

The Economist

Street violence made it impossible to hold the elections.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"But a variety of factors made it impossible".

The New Yorker

Fog made it impossible to separate ocean and sky.

The New York Times - Travel

But all the other pressures made it impossible.

Independent

Moreover, they made it impossible to get in.

The Guardian - Film

They have made it impossible for people to protest safely.

The Guardian - Opinion

Fighting has made it impossible to deliver aid.

The New York Times

7's widening has made it impossible to continue".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "made it impossible", ensure that the reason for impossibility is clear and directly linked to the action being prevented. For example, "The dense fog made it impossible to drive safely".

Common error

Avoid using "made it impossible" when describing situations that are merely difficult or inconvenient. Reserve this phrase for scenarios where the action is genuinely unachievable, not just challenging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made it impossible" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that something has caused a particular action or outcome to be unachievable. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made it impossible" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something has prevented a specific action or outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and general communication. When using this phrase, ensure the reason for the impossibility is clear and directly linked to the action being prevented. While versatile, avoid overstating impossibility when describing situations that are merely difficult. Related phrases like "rendered it unfeasible" and "precluded it from happening" can offer more formal alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rendered it unfeasible

Emphasizes that something was made impractical or not realistically achievable.

precluded it from happening

Highlights the act of preventing something from occurring.

effectively blocked it

Suggests a strong impediment that halted progress or action.

put an end to it

Indicates a definitive stop or conclusion, emphasizing finality.

created an insurmountable barrier

Focuses on the creation of a difficulty that cannot be overcome.

dashed all hopes of it

Implies a crushing of expectations, making an outcome unattainable.

threw a wrench in the works

Uses an idiomatic expression to describe the disruption that caused failure.

nullified any chance of

Indicates that all opportunities have been eliminated.

ruled out the possibility

States that something is no longer an option.

vetoed any chance of

Formal way of expressing that something has been disallowed or prevented.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "made it impossible" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "rendered it unfeasible", "precluded it from happening", or "effectively blocked it".

What are some common situations where "made it impossible" is appropriately used?

This phrase is suitable when describing scenarios where specific conditions or events directly prevent an action, such as "The flood made it impossible to access the town" or "The new law made it impossible to continue the project".

Is there a difference between "made it impossible" and "made it difficult"?

"Made it impossible" indicates that an action cannot be performed at all, while "made it difficult" suggests that an action is still possible but requires more effort or resources. They are not interchangeable.

Can I use "made it impossible" in legal or professional writing?

Yes, "made it impossible" is acceptable in both legal and professional writing, provided it accurately reflects a situation where something was genuinely unachievable. Alternatives like "rendered it unfeasible" may be preferred in highly formal contexts.