virtually unattainable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually unattainable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is almost impossible to achieve or obtain, often due to high difficulty or unrealistic standards. Example: "The goal of achieving a perfect score on the exam is virtually unattainable for most students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

More embarrassingly for the government, it makes the targets set in 1997 for 2002 look virtually unattainable.

The Economist

Even during al-Jāḥiẓ's lifetime the extent of his erudition and genius was widely recognized, and his achievements were deemed virtually unattainable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The threshold is virtually unattainable, say Mr. Nader and another third-party contender, Patrick J. Buchanan, without the national exposure of a televised debate.

The New York Times

Yet the 95percentt goal seems virtually unattainable in an income group that is notoriously hard to reach, as the administration should know from its abysmal results in trying to enroll the low-income elderly in its Medicare drug benefit.

The New York Times

Though it can seem like the most scatterbrained company in the world, with projects like Loon, its plan to distribute Internet access via stratospheric balloons, even Google's most ludicrous ideas fit within the scope of its simply defined (if virtually unattainable) goal.

The New Yorker

3. Hyundai Accent 4. Ford Mustang Boss 302 5. Volkswagen Passat TDI 6. Kia Optima 7. Audi A7 8. Range Rover Evoque 9. Cadillac CTS-V Wagon 10. Dodge Durango 1. BMW 1 SERIES M ($47,010) Granted, this low production high-performance edition of the small BMW is virtually unattainable.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It presents both virtue and self-knowledge as almost unattainable.

SEP

The number nine is nearly unattainable.

Vice

For most, it has proved  unattainable.

Independent

You can take pictures unattainable by most travelers.

WikiHow

For most people, and most homes, that's simply unattainable.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "virtually unattainable" to convey that something is so difficult to achieve that it's almost impossible. It's stronger than "difficult" but less absolute than "impossible".

Common error

Avoid using "virtually unattainable" when something is definitively impossible. Reserve it for situations where there's a theoretical chance of success, however small.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually unattainable" functions as an adjectival modifier. It modifies a noun to describe something that is almost impossible to achieve or obtain. Ludwig's examples show it describing goals, targets, and conditions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "virtually unattainable" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe something exceedingly difficult to achieve. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it's most commonly found in news and media, scientific and encyclopedia contexts. The phrase suggests near impossibility, a nuance that distinguishes it from simply "difficult" or definitively "impossible". Alternatives include "basically unattainable" and "almost unattainable". Remember, while versatile, "virtually unattainable" should be used judiciously to accurately reflect the degree of difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

basically unattainable

Directly replaces "virtually" with "basically", indicating a near impossibility.

almost unattainable

Substitutes "virtually" with "almost", softening the degree of impossibility slightly.

nearly unattainable

Similar to 'almost unattainable' but carries a slightly stronger sense of closeness to the limit of being unattainable.

practically unattainable

Replaces "virtually" with "practically", focusing on the practical aspect of impossibility.

effectively unattainable

Focuses on the outcome: the achievement is rendered unattainable in effect, regardless of the cause.

realistically unattainable

Highlights that the situation is not unattainable in theory but, realistically, is.

essentially unattainable

Conveys that something is unattainable in its essence or most important aspects.

as good as unattainable

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey a similar meaning of near impossibility.

all but unattainable

Another idiomatic expression that means 'almost' or 'nearly' unattainable.

out of reach

A more metaphorical way of saying that something cannot be obtained or achieved.

FAQs

What does "virtually unattainable" mean?

The phrase "virtually unattainable" means something is so difficult to achieve or obtain that it's almost impossible. It suggests a very low probability of success.

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

You can use "virtually unattainable" to describe goals, targets, or standards that are extremely difficult to meet. For example: "Achieving zero emissions by 2030 seems "virtually unattainable" with current technology."

What are some alternatives to "virtually unattainable"?

Alternatives to "virtually unattainable" include "basically unattainable", "almost unattainable", "nearly unattainable", or "out of reach".

Is it appropriate to use "virtually unattainable" in formal writing?

Yes, "virtually unattainable" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a clear and professional way to describe something that is extremely difficult to achieve as shown by the examples in Ludwig. However, ensure it accurately reflects the degree of difficulty; if something is truly impossible, "impossible" might be a better choice.