Impracticable

Impracticable
Impracticable Im*prac"ti*ca*ble, a. 1. Not practicable; incapable of being performed, or accomplished by the means employed, or at command; impossible; as, an impracticable undertaking. [1913 Webster]

2. Not to be overcome, persuaded, or controlled by any reasonable method; unmanageable; intractable; not capable of being easily dealt with; -- used in a general sense, as applied to a person or thing that is difficult to control or get along with. [1913 Webster]

This though, impracticable heart Is governed by a dainty-fingered girl. --Rowe. [1913 Webster]

Patriotic but loyal men went away disgusted afresh with the impracticable arrogance of a sovereign. --Palfrey. [1913 Webster]

3. Incapable of being used or availed of; as, an impracticable road; an impracticable method.

Syn: Impossible; infeasible. -- {Impracticable}, {Impossible}. A thing is impracticable when it can not be accomplished by any human means at present possessed; a thing is impossible when the laws of nature forbid it. The navigation of a river may now be impracticable, but not impossible, because the existing obstructions may yet be removed. ``The barons exercised the most despotic authority over their vassals, and every scheme of public utility was rendered impracticable by their continued petty wars with each other.'' --Mickle. ``With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'' --Matt. xix. 26. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • impracticable — im·prac·ti·ca·ble /im prak ti kə bəl/ adj: excessively difficult to perform esp. by reason of an unforeseen contingency a contract made impracticable by the new regulation Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • impracticable — impracticable, impractical These two words have related meanings to do with the impossibility of doing something, and correspond to the positive forms practicable, practical. Impractical is a relatively recent (19c) word and means the same as… …   Modern English usage

  • impracticable — adjetivo 1. Que no se puede realizar o poner en práctica: Tu proyecto es impracticable, no tenemos dinero. 2. [Camino] que no reúne las condiciones suficientes para poder pasar por él con un mínimo de comodidad: En invierno el pueblo queda… …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • impracticable — [im prak′ti kə bəl] adj. [< IN 2 + PRACTICABLE] 1. not capable of being carried out in practice [an impracticable plan] 2. not capable of being used [an impracticable road] 3. Now Rare not capable of being managed or dealt with; intractable …   English World dictionary

  • impracticable — (adj.) incapable of being done, 1670s, from assimilated form of IN (Cf. in ) (1) not, opposite of + PRACTICABLE (Cf. practicable). Earlier in a sense of impassable (1650s) …   Etymology dictionary

  • impracticable — (De in 2 y practicable). 1. adj. Que no se puede practicar. 2. Dicho de un camino o de un paraje: Por donde no se puede caminar o no se puede pasar sin mucha dificultad …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • impracticable — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ impossible in practice to do or carry out. DERIVATIVES impracticability noun impracticably adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • impracticable — ► adjetivo 1 Que no puede ser practicado o realizado: ■ su aventura parecía impracticable, pero lo consiguió al fin. SINÓNIMO imposible irrealizable 2 Que no puede ser transitado: ■ al llegar al camino intransitable tuvieron que dar la vuelta.… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • impracticable — [[t]ɪmpræ̱ktɪkəb(ə)l[/t]] ADJ GRADED: usu v link ADJ If something such as a course of action is impracticable, it is impossible to do. Experts have told them that such measures would be highly impracticable and almost impossible to apply.… …   English dictionary

  • impracticable — adjective impossible in practice to do or carry out. Derivatives impracticability noun impracticably adverb Usage Although similar in meaning, impracticable and impractical are not used in exactly the same way. Impracticable means ‘impossible to… …   English new terms dictionary

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