infeasible 🔊
Meaning of infeasible
Not possible to do easily or conveniently; impractical.
Key Difference
Infeasible emphasizes that something is not practical or achievable under current conditions, often due to excessive difficulty or lack of resources.
Example of infeasible
- Building a bridge across the ocean is infeasible with today's technology.
- Due to budget constraints, the proposed space mission was deemed infeasible.
Synonyms
impractical 🔊
Meaning of impractical
Not sensible or realistic; difficult to carry out.
Key Difference
While 'infeasible' suggests something is impossible due to constraints, 'impractical' implies it is unwise or inefficient to attempt.
Example of impractical
- Relying solely on solar power in a region with little sunlight is impractical.
- His plan to walk across the desert without water was highly impractical.
unworkable 🔊
Meaning of unworkable
Not capable of functioning or being implemented effectively.
Key Difference
'Unworkable' suggests a plan or idea cannot function as intended, whereas 'infeasible' focuses on the impossibility due to external factors.
Example of unworkable
- The proposed law was unworkable due to its vague wording.
- A schedule with no breaks is unworkable for most employees.
unattainable 🔊
Meaning of unattainable
Impossible to achieve or reach.
Key Difference
'Unattainable' implies a goal is beyond reach, while 'infeasible' suggests it is impractical to attempt.
Example of unattainable
- Perfection is often an unattainable standard.
- For many, owning a mansion in the city is financially unattainable.
impossible 🔊
Meaning of impossible
Incapable of being done or occurring.
Key Difference
'Impossible' is absolute, while 'infeasible' allows for theoretical possibility under different conditions.
Example of impossible
- It's impossible to travel faster than the speed of light.
- Finishing the project in one day is impossible given the workload.
unviable 🔊
Meaning of unviable
Not capable of succeeding or functioning effectively.
Key Difference
'Unviable' often refers to economic or biological failure, whereas 'infeasible' is broader in scope.
Example of unviable
- The startup became unviable after losing its major investor.
- The species was unviable in the altered ecosystem.
hopeless 🔊
Meaning of hopeless
Having no possibility of success.
Key Difference
'Hopeless' conveys despair, while 'infeasible' is a more neutral assessment of practicality.
Example of hopeless
- The rescue mission was hopeless after the avalanche.
- Trying to fix the ancient computer was a hopeless task.
futile 🔊
Meaning of futile
Incapable of producing any useful result.
Key Difference
'Futile' emphasizes pointlessness, while 'infeasible' focuses on impracticality.
Example of futile
- Arguing with him about politics is futile.
- Their efforts to revive the old tradition proved futile.
unrealistic 🔊
Meaning of unrealistic
Not grounded in reality; overly optimistic.
Key Difference
'Unrealistic' implies a lack of grounding in facts, while 'infeasible' is about practical constraints.
Example of unrealistic
- Expecting to learn a language fluently in a week is unrealistic.
- His timeline for the project was completely unrealistic.
impracticable 🔊
Meaning of impracticable
Not able to be put into practice.
Key Difference
'Impracticable' is very close to 'infeasible,' but slightly more formal and less commonly used.
Example of impracticable
- The proposed solution was elegant but impracticable.
- Due to safety concerns, the experiment was deemed impracticable.
Conclusion
- Infeasible is best used when describing something that is theoretically possible but impractical due to current constraints.
- Impractical can be used when something is theoretically possible but unwise or inefficient to attempt.
- Unworkable is suitable when a plan or system cannot function as intended due to flaws.
- Unattainable should be used when a goal is completely out of reach, regardless of effort.
- Impossible is the strongest term, indicating absolute inability under any circumstances.
- Unviable is often used in economic or biological contexts to describe failing systems.
- Hopeless conveys a sense of despair and should be used when success is unthinkable.
- Futile emphasizes the pointlessness of an action, regardless of effort.
- Unrealistic is best for describing plans or expectations that ignore practical realities.
- Impracticable is a formal alternative to 'infeasible,' often used in technical contexts.