Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Something that is ~ cannot be done or cannot happen.
It was ~ for anyone to get in because no one knew the password...
He thinks the tax is ~ to administer...
Keller is good at describing music–an almost ~ task to do well.
? possible
ADJ: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf/that, ADJ to-inf
•
The ~ is something which is ~.
They were expected to do the ~...
N-SING: the N
impossibly
Mathematical physics is an almost impossibly difficult subject.
ADV: ADV adj
impossibility (impossibilities)
...the impossibility of knowing absolute truth.
N-VAR: oft the N of n
2.
An ~ situation or an ~ position is one that is very difficult to deal with.
The Government was now in an almost ~ position.
= hopeless
ADJ: ADJ n
3.
If you describe someone as ~, you are annoyed that their bad behaviour or strong views make them difficult to deal with.
The woman is ~, thought Frannie.
= intolerable
ADJ disapproval