virtually unreachable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually unreachable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is nearly impossible to access or contact, often in a figurative sense. Example: "During the storm, the remote island became virtually unreachable, cutting off all communication with the mainland."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Virtually unreachable in the winter months, it is anything but a haven for tourism.

The New York Times

The candidacy prompted real excitement for a municipal election, but over the past few weeks, Mr. Strahan had been virtually unreachable, by press or even by the man who recruited him to run, Mr. Russo.

The New York Times

"In looking around the harbor, we saw this extraordinary collection of parks, cultural institutions and commercial nodes virtually unreachable from one another," said Carter Craft, project director of the alliance.

The New York Times

Nestling in a stretch of protected dry deciduous forest on the north west coast, it is virtually unreachable by road; instead, we pick up a seven-seater plane from Tana airport, the 90-minute flight ending in a glorious descent as the pilot arcs over the small peninsula that houses Anjajavy.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Even major cities like Tacloban were initially almost unreachable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Even major cities such as Tacloban were initially almost unreachable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They were devastated and angry, almost unreachable in their despair.

The Guardian

But from the minute that a peace conference was finally announced in November, agreement on virtually anything has proved unreachable.

Huffington Post

"He pursues people who most would consider unreachable.

The New York Times

"Before that seemed like an unreachable goal, almost.

The New York Times - Sports

Virtually everyone agrees today that such a goal is unreachable and that No Child needs revising.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing locations or people, use "virtually unreachable" to convey a sense of extreme difficulty in access or communication, rather than absolute impossibility. This adds nuance and credibility to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually unreachable" when something is genuinely impossible to reach. "Virtually" implies a very high degree of difficulty, but not complete impossibility. Choose stronger terms like "completely isolated" or "absolutely inaccessible" for true impossibilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually unreachable" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating that the noun is extremely difficult to reach or access. As Ludwig AI points out, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "virtually unreachable" is a grammatically sound and infrequently used expression that means something is extremely difficult to reach or access, but not entirely impossible. It is considered correct, according to Ludwig AI, and is most commonly found in news and media contexts, as well as encyclopedias. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context reflects a high degree of difficulty rather than absolute impossibility. Alternatives include "almost inaccessible" and "nearly unattainable".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually inaccessible

A direct synonym, simply replacing one adjective with another of similar meaning.

almost inaccessible

Emphasizes the difficulty of access rather than complete impossibility.

almost beyond reach

Indicates a state of being just outside the ability to access or achieve.

nearly unattainable

Focuses on the difficulty in achieving or obtaining something.

practically out of reach

Highlights the physical or metaphorical distance making something hard to get to.

next to impossible to reach

Stresses the near impossibility of making contact or accessing.

effectively isolated

Stresses the result of being unreachable, which is a state of isolation.

realistically unapproachable

Indicates that approaching something is not practical or feasible.

as good as unreachable

Informal way to express that something is almost unreachable.

tantamount to unreachability

Highlights a situation that is equivalent in effect to being unreachable.

FAQs

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

You can use "virtually unreachable" to describe places or people that are extremely difficult to access or contact. For example, "During the storm, the mountain village became "virtually unreachable"".

What does "virtually unreachable" mean?

"Virtually unreachable" means something is almost impossible to reach or access, either physically or metaphorically. It suggests a very high degree of difficulty, bordering on impossibility.

What are some alternatives to "virtually unreachable"?

Some alternatives to "virtually unreachable" include "almost inaccessible", "nearly unattainable", or "practically out of reach", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "virtually unreachable"?

Yes, "virtually unreachable" is a correct and usable phrase in English. It's commonly used to describe something very difficult, but not entirely impossible, to reach or access.