make impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

'make impossible' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something becomes impossible or difficult to do or accomplish. For example: "The mountains of paperwork made it impossible to finish the task in time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In creating his diversion, Cyrano took it as his mission to make impossible things seem plausible.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"The real populists are those who make impossible promises," he said.

The Guardian

Such assumptions lead to the knee-jerk vilification of our industry and make impossible the development of sound policy consensus.

The New York Times

We are right to demand the kind of meaningful life outside of work that such long hours make impossible".

Independent

They can often take action only after they have demonstrated that a substance is harmful — a task that corporate secrecy can make impossible.

The New York Times

As I swept through Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong over two weeks, I had to make impossible decisions about what to sample from this bounty.

The New York Times - Food

ERP systems are particularly interesting for what they make impossible, and our cases illustrate how the two organizations in the quest for integration mobilized a number of 'boundary objects' to overcome systems-based 'blind spots' and 'trading zones'.

Accounting, Organizations and Society

Florida's "awareness" test is plainly inadequate, because it assumes Mr. Ferguson has the kind of understanding of his situation that his delusions make impossible.

The New York Times

For having to make impossible decisions any time of day or night, and still bring a smile and fresh mind to our next patient?

Independent

The clinical evaluation of neuroprotective drugs is difficult considering the long-term effect of anti-parkinsonian medication that nearly make impossible accurate measurement of the "true" clinical stage of the disease in the early years of progression.

Revue Neurologique

Ms Hunt said that parents were being forced to make impossible decisions between such basic provisions as providing an adequate meal or putting on the heating.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make impossible", ensure the subject clearly identifies what is causing the impossibility. For example, "The dense fog made impossible any chance of landing the plane safely."

Common error

Avoid using "make impossible" in overly passive constructions that obscure the agent causing the impossibility. Instead of "It was made impossible to see the road," prefer "The heavy rain made it impossible to see the road."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make impossible" functions as a verb phrase where 'make' acts as a causative verb, indicating that something is causing a state of impossibility. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its correct usage and the examples provided. It often modifies a noun or action, explaining the impossibility, as seen in many examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

19%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make impossible" is a versatile construction used to describe situations where certain conditions or actions prevent a particular outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and commonly used across varied contexts, including news, scientific, and academic writing. The phrase effectively conveys a sense of causation, highlighting the reasons behind the impossibility of a given scenario. While generally neutral in register, its usage tends toward the formal, given its prevalence in reputable sources. When using "make impossible", it's important to ensure clarity by specifying what factors contribute to the impossibility and to avoid overly passive constructions. Alternatives such as ""preclude the possibility of"" or ""make unachievable"" can be considered to diversify writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make unachievable

Directly states that something is rendered impossible to achieve.

preclude the possibility of

Specifically targets the chance of something happening, eliminating any potential for it.

preclude

Focuses on preventing something from happening, often through direct action or circumstance.

render unattainable

Emphasizes the act of causing something to be out of reach or impossible to get.

rule out

Suggests dismissing something as a possibility, making its occurrence impossible.

nullify

Focuses on invalidating or cancelling something, making a prior state or action impossible to maintain.

thwart

Highlights the act of preventing someone's plans or efforts from succeeding.

impede

Emphasizes hindering or obstructing progress, making something more difficult or impossible.

hinder

Suggests causing delays or difficulties that might make an outcome impossible.

obviate

Focuses on eliminating the need for something, thereby making its occurrence or necessity impossible.

FAQs

How can I use "make impossible" in a sentence?

Use "make impossible" to describe a factor that prevents an action or outcome. For instance, "The lack of funding made impossible the continuation of the project."

What are some alternatives to "make impossible"?

Consider alternatives such as "preclude the possibility of", "make unachievable", or "rule out" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "make impossible" or "render impossible"?

"Make impossible" and "render impossible" are both grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. The choice depends on stylistic preference, although "make impossible" is generally more common.

What does it mean when something "makes something impossible"?

It means a specific circumstance or action creates conditions where a desired outcome or action cannot occur. It effectively blocks or prevents the possibility of that outcome.