proved impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proved impossible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been demonstrated to be unachievable or unattainable. Example: "Despite numerous attempts to resolve the issue, it ultimately proved impossible to find a solution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It proved impossible today.

Independent

Unsurprisingly, that proved impossible.

The Economist

By design, this proved impossible.

The New Yorker

Imputations proved impossible to outrun.

The New Yorker

But that proved impossible.

The New York Times

That proved "impossible".

The Guardian

This proved impossible to secure.

The Guardian - Film

Yes, the task proved impossible.

The New York Times - Arts

Resuming private law practice proved impossible.

The New Yorker

Nevertheless, the subject proved impossible to ignore.

The New York Times - Magazine

The obstacles proved impossible to overcome.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "proved impossible" when you want to emphasize that something was attempted but ultimately failed to be achieved, often after considerable effort or expectation.

Common error

Avoid overly passive constructions when using "proved impossible". Instead of saying "It was proved impossible by the team", opt for a more direct approach: "The team proved it impossible".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proved impossible" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the subject as having been demonstrated to be unachievable. This is supported by Ludwig AI which confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "proved impossible" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote that something has been demonstrated to be unachievable. As verified by Ludwig, it is suitable for various contexts, including news reporting, scientific writing, and formal communication. While alternatives such as "turned out to be impossible" or "was found to be impossible" exist, "proved impossible" carries a weight of finality and often implies prior effort. When using this phrase, consider avoiding overuse of passive voice to maintain clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turned out to be impossible

Emphasizes the discovery of impossibility over time.

became unachievable

Suggests a change in circumstances that led to impossibility.

was found to be impossible

Highlights the discovery of the impossibility by an unspecified entity.

proved unattainable

Highlights that something was beyond reach.

could not be achieved

States that something was not able to be accomplished.

was beyond reach

Indicates something couldn't be obtained.

resulted in failure

Focuses on the negative outcome of an attempt.

was not feasible

Indicates that something was not practical or suitable.

failed to materialize

Focuses on the lack of realization or occurrence.

met with failure

Implies that an attempt was directly confronted by failure.

FAQs

What does "proved impossible" mean?

The phrase "proved impossible" means that something was tried or attempted but ultimately could not be achieved or realized.

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

You can use "proved impossible" to describe a task, goal, or situation that, despite efforts, could not be accomplished. For example, "Reaching a consensus "proved impossible" due to conflicting opinions".

What are some alternatives to "proved impossible"?

Alternatives include "turned out to be impossible", "was found to be impossible", or "could not be achieved", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "proven impossible" instead of "proved impossible"?

Both "proven" and "proved" can be used as past participles of "prove". While "proved" is more common in British English, "proven" is frequently used in American English, so "proven impossible" is generally acceptable.