possibly impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

"possibly impossible" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is typically used to express uncertainty or a lack of understanding about a particular situation, as in the example sentence, "I'm not sure if it's possible to finish this project in the time we have; it's possibly impossible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

With imagination we can ruminate over that yet to be experienced, possibly impossible scenario.

The New York Times

Mr. Rosenfield, the city's earnest young controller, holds the possibly impossible job of keeping the city solvent in the face of an estimated $380 million budget deficit and a bitter political battle over ballooning employee costs.

The New York Times

Prior selection criteria for resuscitation, criteria for inclusion into the study group, incomplete resuscitation, gestational age determination, intrauterine growth restriction, subjective assessment of 'poor' outcome, and other factors make setting specific parameters for acting or not acting difficult, if not dangerous, and possibly impossible.

Seminars in Neonatology

Salaried jobs are going to be a much slower and possibly impossible way to become the millionaire you want to become.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

However, considering that some 40 other mobile companies have licensed these key patents, this is extremely unlikely (possibly even impossible, depending on which company holds what patents).

TechCrunch

Given how many people hate or at least thoroughly distrust him – ex-White House chief of staff Linda Vasquez, Garrett and Trisha Walker, the Republicans in Congress, most Democrats in Congress, Raymond and Mrs Tusk, Remy Danton, Jackie Sharp, the press corps, alienated hacker dudes, BBQ Freddy and possibly his impossible-to-read wife – that promises to be some struggle.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He told MPs: "I know trying to defend Fred is possibly a mission impossible".

The Guardian - Business

Some in Brussels worry that if Mr Soini joins the coalition this time, Finland could make further Greek rescue programmes impossible, possibly forcing Greece out of the euro.That may not come to pass.

The Economist

The film makes no effort to reconcile the Kennedys' mind-set with that of the American public, possibly because it is impossible to explain to outsiders.

The New York Times - Arts

It is impossible – and possibly illegal – to visit Marrakech and not experience Djemma el-Fna, the square in the heart of the ancient, walled medina.

Independent

Schumer's character (also called Amy) is first seen in flashback as a child, listening to her father (Colin Quinn) deliver a majestically pessimistic speech about how monogamy is impossible and possibly insane – as he's walking out on her mother.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "possibly impossible" to express a degree of uncertainty or doubt about the feasibility of something, rather than stating it as an absolute fact. This acknowledges the complexity of the situation and allows for the possibility of unforeseen circumstances or solutions.

Common error

Avoid using "possibly impossible" when a situation is clearly impossible. Using "possibly" implies a degree of uncertainty, which would be misleading if the outcome is predetermined. Instead, use stronger, more definitive language like "certainly impossible" or "completely unfeasible".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "possibly impossible" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, describing something that is considered very unlikely or difficult to achieve. As Ludwig AI explains, it conveys a sense of uncertainty about the impossibility.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Wiki

26%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "possibly impossible" is a way to describe something that appears extremely difficult, but without completely ruling out the chance of success. Grammatically sound and understood across various contexts, Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While infrequent, its appearance in sources like The New York Times and The Guardian showcases its use in journalistic and analytical writing. When considering its usage, be mindful of overstating impossibility and ensure it accurately reflects the situation you are describing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maybe unattainable

Replaces "impossible" with "unattainable", softening the overall assertion of impossibility with a focus on the difficulty of achieving the outcome.

potentially unachievable

Similar to "maybe unattainable", but emphasizes the potential rather than the certainty of being unachievable.

conceivably insurmountable

Uses "insurmountable" suggesting something that can't be overcome, while "conceivably" adds a layer of uncertainty.

imaginably unworkable

Emphasizes the practical aspect of something being unworkable, adding "imaginably" to temper the assertion.

theoretically hopeless

Focuses on the theoretical aspect, suggesting that based on theory, the situation is hopeless but doesn't exclude other possibilities.

perhaps unrealistic

Shifts the focus to realism, suggesting that something might not be practical or achievable given the circumstances.

seemingly infeasible

Suggests that something appears not to be feasible based on initial assessment but leaves room for potential changes.

apparently undoable

Uses a more informal term, "undoable", to convey the sense of something not being possible, while "apparently" softens the claim.

not easily accomplished

Understates the difficulty, implying that it is not simple to achieve, instead of outright impossibility.

hardly viable

Focuses on viability, meaning capable of working successfully; "hardly" diminishes the prospect of success.

FAQs

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

You can use "possibly impossible" to describe a task or situation that seems very difficult or unlikely to succeed, but where you're not entirely certain it's unachievable. For example, "Reaching net-zero emissions by 2030 seems "possibly impossible" with current technology".

What's the difference between "possibly impossible" and "certainly impossible"?

"Possibly impossible" suggests a degree of doubt or uncertainty about the impossibility of something. "Certainly impossible", on the other hand, indicates a firm belief that something cannot be done under any circumstances.

Are there synonyms for "possibly impossible" that convey a similar meaning?

Yes, you could use alternatives like "potentially unachievable", "maybe unattainable", or "conceivably insurmountable" to express a similar idea of something being very difficult or unlikely, but not definitely unachievable.

Is it grammatically correct to use "possibly impossible"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Possibly" is an adverb that modifies the adjective "impossible", indicating a degree of uncertainty about the impossibility.