unworkable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unworkable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a plan, idea, or situation that is not feasible or cannot be effectively implemented. Example: "The proposed solution was deemed unworkable due to its high costs and complexity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The policies being espoused by the government are badly thought out and unworkable.

The Guardian

If Kennedy's vote is lost, the Obama administration's signature domestic legislative achievement will be rendered unworkable or struck down entirely.

The Guardian - Opinion

Isn't the Tory idea to introduce right-to-buy social housing just a gimmick which is largely unworkable?

The Guardian - Opinion

Wales do not ideally want their players playing abroad either but they know a hard and fast rule is increasingly unworkable.

The Guardian - Sport

However, they were "united" in opposition to the "healthy welfare card", which they believed would be "demeaning, invasive, unworkable and bureaucratic, creating an entire subclass of millions of people in the Australian community", read the statement.

The Guardian

Should a TV fantasy drama be held to such impossibly high standards that it becomes effectively unworkable to feature any rape scenes at all?

The Guardian - Opinion

The IFC plan was rejected as "appalling" by the head of the Lagos Water Corporation, who said it was unworkable and too expensive for the city.

The Guardian

When the Glazer family set about buying the club in 2005, the chief executive then, David Gill, did everything he could to block the takeover, describing it as "unworkable", as well as that now infamous quote that "debt is the road to ruin".

The Guardian - Sport

It seems a shame neither politician seems to have spoken to that wily, principled Conservative former home secretary Douglas Hurd before they proposed something as unworkable, ineffective and dangerous.

The Guardian - Opinion

The government has already insisted that such an idea is "unworkable", and it probably hopes to reap the high-risk returns from its stake in the banks – just as happened in those fatal boom years.

The Guardian - Opinion

She said: "For too long, independence in the Welsh context has been treated as a pipe-dream, as an aspiration so distant it has been seen as unrealistic and unworkable.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a plan or policy, use "unworkable" to clearly state that it cannot be implemented effectively due to inherent flaws or external constraints.

Common error

While "unworkable" is widely accepted, consider stronger or more precise alternatives like "infeasible" or "impractical" in formal or academic writing for greater impact.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "unworkable" primarily functions to describe a noun, indicating that it is not capable of being implemented or operated successfully. Ludwig AI examples show it modifying policies, plans, ideas, and systems deemed impractical or impossible to execute.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unworkable" is an adjective used to describe something that cannot be successfully implemented or operated. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business settings. While widely accepted, more formal alternatives like "impractical" or "infeasible" may be preferable in academic or highly formal writing. Remember to use "unworkable" when you want to clearly communicate that a plan, policy, or idea is inherently flawed and unlikely to succeed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impractical

Focuses on the lack of practicality in real-world scenarios.

infeasible

Highlights the impossibility of achieving the desired outcome.

not viable

Emphasizes the lack of sustainability or ability to survive.

not feasible

Indicates that something cannot be done or carried out.

not practical

Stresses the lack of usefulness in a practical sense.

unachievable

Highlights the impossibility of reaching a certain goal.

impossible to implement

Focuses on the inability to put something into effect.

out of the question

Indicates something is completely unacceptable or not worth considering.

not a runner

Informal way of saying something is unlikely to succeed or happen.

doomed to fail

Emphasizes the certainty of failure for a particular plan or idea.

FAQs

How can I use "unworkable" in a sentence?

You can use "unworkable" to describe a plan, idea, or system that cannot be successfully implemented or operated. For example, "The proposed budget was deemed "unworkable" due to its unrealistic assumptions."

What are some alternatives to "unworkable"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "impractical", "infeasible", "not viable", or "not feasible".

Is it better to say "unworkable" or "impractical"?

Both "unworkable" and "impractical" convey a similar meaning, but "unworkable" emphasizes the inability to function, while "impractical" focuses on the lack of real-world applicability. Choose the word that best fits the specific context.

What makes a plan "unworkable"?

A plan can be "unworkable" due to various factors, such as unrealistic expectations, insufficient resources, conflicting objectives, or external constraints that make it impossible to execute effectively.