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un-get-at-able

un-get-at-able

9.9
Hard to reach or achieve
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈɡɛt æt ə bəl/
  • Informal
translation icon : inalcanzable
  • The mysterious island remained un-get-at-able to all but the bravest explorers.

Examples

  • The treasure was locked away in an un-get-at-able place deep beneath the castle.

  • The mountain's peak felt un-get-at-able despite the climbers' best efforts.

  • For years, her dreams seemed un-get-at-able, no matter how hard she worked.

  • The treasure was un-get-at-able for centuries.

  • She found the solution to be un-get-at-able.

  • The hidden cave was so remote that it was considered un-get-at-able by locals.

  • Many believe the ultimate truth is forever un-get-at-able to mere mortals.

Synonyms

insurmountable
vsun-get-at-able
33 8.5

Impossible to get past

focuses on being hard to reach or attain rather than on overcoming
inaccessible
vsun-get-at-able
28 7.9

Not able to be reached, used, or understood

is about difficulty reaching or attaining in general rather than only access
unattainable
vsun-get-at-able
18 6.3

Not possible to get or reach

includes both very difficult cases as well as complete impossibility
unreachable
vsun-get-at-able
15 4.9

Too difficult to get to because of where or how it is

is more general, meaning very hard to reach or attain regardless of location
unobtainable
vsun-get-at-able
7 6.1

Impossible to get

is about being hard to reach or attain, not only about acquisition
unfeasible
vsun-get-at-able
4 6.8

Not possible to do or make work

highlights difficulty in reaching or attaining rather than impracticality
untouchable
vsun-get-at-able
3 7.7

Too difficult for people to reach or get

is the general idea of being very hard to reach or attain
unachievable
vsun-get-at-able
3 6.3

Not possible to do or reach

emphasizes difficulty in getting or reaching rather than only achieving
insuperable
vsun-get-at-able
  • Formal
2 9.1

So hard that no one can get past it

is about being hard to reach or attain rather than defeat
infeasible
vsun-get-at-able
2 7.2

Not possible to do or make happen

refers to being hard to reach or attain, not only impracticality of action
undoable
vsun-get-at-able
1 4.9

Not possible to do because of little time or no help

emphasizes difficulty in reaching or attaining rather than doing tasks
ungettable
vsun-get-at-able
1 9.6

Hard or impossible to understand

focuses on being hard to reach or attain rather than on understanding
unsurmountable
vsun-get-at-able
1 8.1

Impossible to overcome or get past, like a problem you cannot solve

is about being hard to reach or attain rather than obstacle resistance
unprocurable
vsun-get-at-able
9.9

Not possible to find or buy

is about difficulty reaching or attaining, not only inability to procure
uncomeatable
vsun-get-at-able
  • Archaic
9.9

Hard to reach or get

is the modern general term for difficulty reaching or attaining
inexpugnable
vsun-get-at-able
9.9

No one can beat or prove it wrong

focuses on being hard to reach or attain rather than on being invincible
unsoluble
vsun-get-at-able
9.4

Not able to be fixed or changed

focuses on difficulty in reaching or attaining rather than problem resolution

Antonyms

280 3.9

A place, thing, or service that you can reach and use easily

How Accessible

accessible
280 3.9
reachable
9 2.8
un-get-at-able
  • Informal
9.9

Surface Forms

un-get-at-able positive

Morphology

un-get-at-able = get (transparent) = un + at + get + able

Formed from the phrasal verb 'get at' + suffix '-able' meaning 'able to be reached or accessed', which is directly interpretable. [Postprocessing: moved 'at' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

Un-get-at-able is made from the parts un- ('not'), get + at (as in 'get at', meaning 'reach' or 'get'), and -able ('can be'). So it literally means 'not able to be reached', which is why we use it for something very hard or impossible to reach.