unattainable

/ ˌʌnəˈteɪnəbəl /

adjective

1. not achievable or accomplishable

   an unattainable goal

Example Sentences

Virtually everyone in the industry agrees that zero is an unattainable number.

From Los Angeles Times

Ultimately, the documentary humanizes someone often viewed as an avatar of unattainable perfection.

From Los Angeles Times

“But if you set a standard that is unattainable from a stakeholder implementation perspective, you're not going to see the tangible progress that everyone really wants.”

From Salon

He told BBC Sport that qualifying to face Europe's elite was "an unattainable and impossible dream, made real".

From BBC

“This advice is so unattainable, I compare it to a doctor prescribing a starvation diet to someone with diabetes. The advice does more harm than good.”

From Salon

Related Words

• futile
• hopeless
• impassable
• impervious
• impractical
• inaccessible
• inconceivable
• insurmountable
• unimaginable
• unreasonable
• unthinkable
• unworkable
• useless

More About Unattainable

What does unattainable mean?

Unattainable means not able to be accomplished or achieved.

It’s especially used to describe things like goals or statuses that are thought to be impossible to achieve in general or with one’s abilities or resources.

The verb attain means to achieve, accomplish, obtain, or gain. It can also mean to reach or arrive at, as in He has attained the age of 100. Unattainable can be used in this sense as well.

Unattainable is the opposite is attainable, which means able to be accomplished or achieved.

Example: Due to the recession, the goal of retiring early now seems unattainable.

Where does unattainable come from?

The first records of the word unattainable come from the 1600s, not long after the first records of attainable. The root word attain is first recorded in the 1300s and comes from the Latin verb attingere, meaning “to reach,” from tangere, “to touch.” The prefix un- means “not” and the suffix -able means “capable of.”

Things that are unattainable are out of reach. A goal may be unattainable because it’s completely impossible, or it may be unattainable because it can’t be accomplished with one’s current means. Unattainable is most often used to describe goals, aims, or certain ways that people want to be. For example, describing beauty standards as unattainable refers to the fact that the average person won’t be able to look like a model.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to unattainable?

• unattainably (adverb)

What are some synonyms for unattainable?

• unobtainable

What are some words that share a root or word element with unattainable? 

 

• attainable
• attain

What are some words that often get used in discussing unattainable?

 

• goal
• standard
• dream
• elusive
• impossible

How is unattainable used in real life?

The word unattainable can be used in many different contexts, but it’s most commonly applied to goals or dreams considered impossible.

Today my lifelong goal of being on a Forbes 40 under 40 list became forever unattainable. QQ

— Dan Olson (@olson_dan) September 8, 2020

Go after your dream, no matter how unattainable others think it is.

— PrayerMachine (@SingingNabiy) August 29, 2020

holding myself to an unattainable standard so that i’m upset with myself regardless of what grade i make is my toxic trait 🥴🥴🥴

— cristina yang wannabe m2 (@iiambrianb) August 31, 2020

 

 

Try using unattainable!

Which of the following words is an antonym (opposite) of unattainable?

A. unachievable
B. unreachable
C. doable
D. unobtainable