unreachable

USAGE SUMMARY

"unreachable" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is difficult or impossible to reach, like a place or a situation. For example, you could say: "The summit of Mount Everest is considered unreachable by most people."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The long Hollywood lineage of films about the FBI bringing rich, unreachable men to justice has lent a distinct movie-like quality to the crumbling of Sepp Blatter and Fifa, from the dawn arrests of accused high-ups at their five-star Zurich hotel, through the criminal confessions of Chuck Blazer, to the still pinch-yourself moment the president announced his fall.

The Guardian - Sport

Governor Logan suggested she had delayed the declaration of a state of emergency by being unreachable.

The Guardian

Andrej Dynko, chief editor of the independent Nasha Niva newspaper, said: "Seven of the presidential candidates are unreachable by telephone and one of them, Grigory Kostusev, managed to send a text message saying he was delivered to Amerikanka, the KGB prison in Minsk.

The Guardian

Not only do the tracks from new album Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action slot seamlessly into this exuberant canon, some of them could've been written especially for the event: Stand On The Horizon, an ode to the romance of unreachable distances, is full of North Sea references and Evil Eye even contains a knowing West Coast synth whine as an (unintentional) nod to Snoop.

The Guardian - Music

When at his rare concerts devoted fans demanded better, Presley served up tepid versions of his 1950s classics.By the mid-1970s, theidoldol was unreachable.

The Economist

For example, SAP has an online chat service for its NetWeaver software, where customers and staff can collaborate with the people who design it.Clearly, the internet has allowed people to interact easily and cheaply with others who would previously have been unreachable, and social networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn are spawning all sorts of new relationships and collaborations.

The Economist

Many of them are unreachable political primitives, intent on bringing down the peace process rather than joining it.

The Economist

Making each picture was like throwing a stone without knowing where it would land, how close to the unknowable and unreachable.

The Economist

It will also add to the government's budgetary problems: its target, agreed with the IMF, of cutting the fiscal deficit to 3.5% of GDP (from 6.5% last year) now looks unreachable.

The Economist

Organised crime gangs, often from Eastern Europe, extort money from gambling and pornography sites by using botnets to make them unreachable.

The Economist

He sees both pain and low mood as warning mechanisms and thinks that, just as understanding chronic pain means first understanding normal pain, so understanding clinical depression means understanding mild depression.Dr Nesse's hypothesis is that, as pain stops you doing damaging physical things, so low mood stops you doing damaging mental ones in particular, pursuing unreachable goals.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts or goals, use "unreachable" to emphasize the perceived impossibility of attainment. For example, "The ideal of perfect equality remains an "unreachable" goal for many societies."

Common error

Avoid using "unreachable" when you specifically mean physically inaccessible. "Inaccessible" often refers to physical barriers, while "unreachable" can apply to both physical and abstract concepts. For instance, say "The island is inaccessible due to the storm", not "unreachable".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unreachable" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that is difficult or impossible to reach, either physically or metaphorically. Ludwig provides examples showing it describing locations, goals, and even emotional states.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Encyclopedias

14%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unreachable" is a versatile adjective used to describe something that is difficult or impossible to reach, either physically or metaphorically. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used, appearing in various reputable sources like The Economist, The Guardian, and Encyclopedia Britannica. While alternatives like "inaccessible" and "unattainable" exist, "unreachable" maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse writing styles. Remember to use "unreachable" when you want to express that something is beyond one's grasp and to avoid confusing it with "inaccessible", which is often more physical in nature. With a high source quality score of 88 and a strong expert rating of 4.6, "unreachable" is a reliable choice for conveying the idea of inaccessibility or unattainability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inaccessible

Indicates a lack of physical or metaphorical access, similar to "unreachable" but often focusing on barriers to entry.

unattainable

Emphasizes the impossibility of achieving something, shifting the focus from physical reach to achievement.

out of reach

A more literal alternative, suggesting something is beyond one's grasp or capacity.

impossible to reach

A direct and explicit rephrasing, highlighting the inability to make contact or access.

beyond reach

Similar to "out of reach", but can also imply a broader sense of being unattainable or too distant.

inapproachable

Implies difficulty in interacting with someone or something, focusing on social or emotional distance.

isolated

Focuses on the state of being separated or cut off, rather than the act of reaching.

uncontactable

Specifically indicates an inability to make contact, often used in the context of communication.

remote

Describes physical distance and lack of accessibility, applicable to locations or concepts.

unreachable goal

Indicates a objective that cannot be achieved.

FAQs

How can I use "unreachable" in a sentence?

You can use "unreachable" to describe something that is impossible or very difficult to reach, either physically or metaphorically. For example: "The mountaintop was "unreachable" due to the blizzard", or "Perfect happiness is often an "unreachable" ideal".

What can I say instead of "unreachable"?

You can use alternatives like "inaccessible", "unattainable", or "out of reach" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "unreachable goal" or "unattainable goal"?

Both "unreachable goal" and "unattainable goal" are correct and can be used interchangeably to describe a goal that is impossible to achieve. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, where "unattainable" might sound more formal.

What's the difference between "unreachable" and "remote"?

"Unreachable" implies an inability to reach something, either physically or metaphorically, while "remote" primarily describes physical distance or isolation. A location might be "remote", making it "unreachable" by certain means, but "remote" doesn't necessarily imply impossibility.