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unworkable

unworkable

11 5.1
Too difficult or impossible to do successfully
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈwɜrkəbl/
translation icon : inviable
  • But for many pious individuals, these options remain unworkable for several reasons.
  • prove unworkable
  • unworkable scheme
  • simply unworkable

The reactive approach, see what happens, limit damages, and learn from experience is unworkable.

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Examples

  • The result was an unworkable governmental maze in which lobbyists and public-employee unions came to wield huge power.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Blanket bans on the live reef fish trade are both unwise and unworkable and just drive the trade underground.

    Academic text (1998)
  • If family commitments or circumstances make this option unworkable, parents are sent written materials.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Such schemes have proved quite unworkable to me and other experienced faculty.

    Academic text (1998)
  • To many, the institution is unworkable and its members corrupt.

    Academic text (2000)
  • To return these nine individuals to such a task would prove unworkable and unwise.

    Academic text (2002)
  • I would argue that this is a simplistic and ultimately unworkable suggestion.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Elsewhere, I have suggested that the federation failed in part because it was unworkable; it had insurmountable flaws.

    Academic text (1991)
  • If, however, decentralization proves unworkable, or separation of Quebec occurs anyway, then the United States must consider further options.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The plan they proposed was deemed unworkable due to its complexity and lack of resources.

Synonyms

ineffective
vsunworkable
90 3.4

Not working well enough to give the wanted result

is about being unable to be carried out successfully rather than poor results
unusable
vsunworkable
16 2.3

Damaged or broken so it does not work

concerns inability to be put into effect rather than physical unsuitability
unfeasible
vsunworkable
4 6.8

Not possible to do or make work

focuses on failure to be put into effect rather than mere difficulty
infeasible
vsunworkable
2 7.2

Not possible to do or make happen

is about inability to be put into effect, not absolute impossibility
impracticable
vsunworkable
  • Formal
1 7.3

Not possible to do in real life because of problems

is not able to be put into effect or carried out successfully

Antonyms

88 4.9

Possible to do or make happen

37 3.9

Possible to do successfully with the tools and conditions we have

How Workable

practical
507 2.6
workable
37 3.9
difficult
1.6
unworkable
11 5.1
impossible
1.4

Surface Forms

unworkable positive

Morphology

unworkable = workable (transparent) = un + work + able

Formation is the productive negation 'un-' applied to the adjective 'workable', yielding the straightforward opposite meaning.

Etymology

The word unworkable comes from un- meaning 'not', work meaning 'to do' or 'function', and -able meaning 'able', so it describes something (like a plan or a machine) that cannot be made to work.