practically unattainable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "practically unattainable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is very difficult or nearly impossible to achieve or obtain. Example: "The goal of achieving world peace may seem practically unattainable given the current global conflicts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I think that perfection is practically unattainable but imperfection is right at hand.

The Guardian - Film

The preservation of Forest Glen is a miraculous outcome that seemed practically unattainable 10 or 15 years ago.

The New York Times

Clark's argument that perfect competition is both theoretically and practically unattainable became the approach adopted by antitrust authorities throughout the world.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It becomes the sanctioned aspiration, even where working conditions or the simple nature of the job render it practically unattainable.

Huffington Post

In the wake of Gustav, many people around Baton Rouge woke up to the unpleasant notification of the "Katrina clause" which made their deductibles practically unattainable ranging anywhere from $15,000 to $62,000.

Huffington Post

The federal bullies are empowered by their positions and supported by a culture of leadership that is blindly results-driven -- even if the goals are so poorly drafted, amorphous, or ambiguous as to be practically unattainable.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

However, absolute homogeneity is unattainable in practice.

Chemical Engineering Science

"I have devoted 40 years -- practically my entire adult life -- to bringing about this possibility, this fulfillment of what seemed an unattainable dream," an older friend wrote me in an email.

Huffington Post

And unattainable.

The New York Times

Unattainable, basically.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That looks unattainable.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "practically unattainable", ensure the context clearly indicates why the goal is difficult to achieve. Providing specific reasons strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "practically unattainable" to describe easily solvable problems. Reserve it for situations where genuine, significant obstacles exist.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "practically unattainable" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, describing it as something very difficult or almost impossible to achieve. As Ludwig AI suggests, it indicates a goal or outcome that faces significant obstacles.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "practically unattainable" effectively communicates a high degree of difficulty in achieving something, stopping just short of absolute impossibility. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse domains such as news, science, and encyclopedias. While alternatives like "virtually impossible" or "almost unachievable" exist, "practically unattainable" offers a specific nuance, suggesting real-world constraints make success highly improbable. When using this phrase, clarity about the obstacles involved strengthens its impact and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually impossible

Emphasizes the near impossibility of achieving something.

almost unachievable

Highlights the difficulty in achieving a particular outcome.

nearly unreachable

Focuses on the difficulty in attaining something, suggesting it is just beyond reach.

effectively out of reach

Suggests that something is beyond one's grasp or capability.

realistically impossible

Indicates that something is not feasible given the current circumstances.

in all likelihood unachievable

Suggests a high probability that something cannot be achieved.

for all practical purposes, impossible

Emphasizes the practical impossibility of something.

as good as impossible

Conveys a sense of near impossibility in a more informal tone.

outside the realm of possibility

Suggests that something is highly unlikely or unimaginable.

unlikely to be realized

Focuses on the low probability of something actually happening.

FAQs

How can I use "practically unattainable" in a sentence?

You can use "practically unattainable" to describe goals or achievements that are very difficult to reach, such as: "Achieving world peace seems "practically unattainable" given current global conflicts."

What are some alternatives to saying "practically unattainable"?

Alternatives include "virtually impossible", "almost unachievable", or "nearly unreachable", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "practically unattainable" or "completely unattainable"?

"Practically unattainable" suggests extreme difficulty but leaves open a slight possibility, while "completely unattainable" implies absolute impossibility. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the situation.

What's the difference between "practically unattainable" and "theoretically unattainable"?

"Practically unattainable" means something is impossible to achieve in practice due to real-world constraints. "Theoretically unattainable" suggests it's impossible even in ideal conditions or abstract thought.