Unattainable
adjective
Not able to be reached or achieved.
Despite all his efforts, the Olympic medal remained unattainable.
Often appears as...
- unattainable goal
- unattainable desire
adjective
Not able to be met or fulfilled.
His expectations were unattainable because they were too high.
Often appears as...
- unattainable expectations
- unattainable standards
adjective
Not possible to understand or comprehend.
For many, the nature of the universe is unattainable.
Usage tips
Disapproving
Academic
adjective
Not able to be reached or achieved.
Despite all his efforts, the Olympic medal remained unattainable.
Often appears as...
- unattainable goal
- unattainable desire
adjective
Not able to be met or fulfilled.
His expectations were unattainable because they were too high.
Often appears as...
- unattainable expectations
- unattainable standards
adjective
Not possible to understand or comprehend.
For many, the nature of the universe is unattainable.
Usage tips
Disapproving
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Realistic Goals
Use 'unattainable' when discussing goals that are impossible, to emphasize setting realistic targets.
No matter how hard I tried, a perfect score was unattainable.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
'Unattainable' often carries a sense of disappointment or hardship in reaching a desired outcome.
The artist felt the perfect painting was unattainable.
Pro Tip 3/3High Aspirations
It suggests aiming for something very ambitious, beyond the norm.
She dreamed of traveling to Mars, an unattainable quest in her lifetime.
Pro Tip 1/3Realistic Goals
Use 'unattainable' when discussing goals that are impossible, to emphasize setting realistic targets.
No matter how hard I tried, a perfect score was unattainable.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
'Unattainable' often carries a sense of disappointment or hardship in reaching a desired outcome.
The artist felt the perfect painting was unattainable.
Pro Tip 3/3High Aspirations
It suggests aiming for something very ambitious, beyond the norm.
She dreamed of traveling to Mars, an unattainable quest in her lifetime.
Pro Tip 1/3Realistic Goals
Use 'unattainable' when discussing goals that are impossible, to emphasize setting realistic targets.
No matter how hard I tried, a perfect score was unattainable.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
'Unattainable' often carries a sense of disappointment or hardship in reaching a desired outcome.
The artist felt the perfect painting was unattainable.
Pro Tip 3/3High Aspirations
It suggests aiming for something very ambitious, beyond the norm.
She dreamed of traveling to Mars, an unattainable quest in her lifetime.
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Video examples
Our dangerous obsession...
But what perfectionism doesn't tell us is that soon after reaching that summit, we will be called down again to the fresh lowlands of insecurity and shame, just to try and scale that peak again. This is the cycle of self-defeat. In the pursuit of unattainable perfection, a perfectionist just cannot step off.
Video examples
Isaac Lidsky: What...
Our lives are full of fish swimming backwards. We make assumptions and faulty leaps of logic. We harbor bias. We know that we are right, and they are wrong. We fear the worst. We strive for unattainable perfection. We tell ourselves what we can and cannot do.
Video examples
Ash Beckham: When to...
But if we are pulled in these two directions, but it's not really where we exist -- polarity is not our actual reality -- where do we go from there? What's at the other end of that spectrum? I don't think it's an unattainable, harmonious utopia,
Video examples
3 rules to help you...
Today, I'm running a self-funded, multimillion dollar business that has been profitable since day one. Growing up where I'm from, building a successful business felt unattainable. But turns out that entrepreneurial spirit was there all along.
Video examples
Olivia Affuso: 3 ways...
long-term weight maintenance may simply be unattainable given the current treatments available. Although individual health behaviors are important for positive health outcomes, these behaviors are driven by the context in which we,
Video examples
An ultra-low-cost...
millions that want to study yet cannot access it for various reasons. financial. Universities are expensive; we all know it. In large parts of the world, higher education is unattainable for an average citizen.
Video examples
What it's like to be a...
The funny thing was, it was actually at that time a feminist declaration of independence from the pressure I felt as a 17-year-old, to conform to a perfect and unattainable standard of beauty.
Video examples
US politics isn't...
in any innovation, results and accountability. Now, before you think that I'm just making a naive overpromise of some crazy, unattainable utopia, I want to clarify that I'm not.
Video examples
Listening to shame -...
shame for women is this web of unattainable conflicting competing expectations about who were supposed to be and it's a straitjacket for men shame is not a bunch of competing
Video examples
The birth of virtual...
Look familiar? Music led me on a path of searching for what seemed like the unattainable for a very long time.
Video examples
Our dangerous obsession...
But what perfectionism doesn't tell us is that soon after reaching that summit, we will be called down again to the fresh lowlands of insecurity and shame, just to try and scale that peak again. This is the cycle of self-defeat. In the pursuit of unattainable perfection, a perfectionist just cannot step off.
Video examples
Isaac Lidsky: What...
Our lives are full of fish swimming backwards. We make assumptions and faulty leaps of logic. We harbor bias. We know that we are right, and they are wrong. We fear the worst. We strive for unattainable perfection. We tell ourselves what we can and cannot do.
Video examples
Ash Beckham: When to...
But if we are pulled in these two directions, but it's not really where we exist -- polarity is not our actual reality -- where do we go from there? What's at the other end of that spectrum? I don't think it's an unattainable, harmonious utopia,
Video examples
3 rules to help you...
Today, I'm running a self-funded, multimillion dollar business that has been profitable since day one. Growing up where I'm from, building a successful business felt unattainable. But turns out that entrepreneurial spirit was there all along.
Video examples
Olivia Affuso: 3 ways...
long-term weight maintenance may simply be unattainable given the current treatments available. Although individual health behaviors are important for positive health outcomes, these behaviors are driven by the context in which we,
Video examples
An ultra-low-cost...
millions that want to study yet cannot access it for various reasons. financial. Universities are expensive; we all know it. In large parts of the world, higher education is unattainable for an average citizen.
Video examples
What it's like to be a...
The funny thing was, it was actually at that time a feminist declaration of independence from the pressure I felt as a 17-year-old, to conform to a perfect and unattainable standard of beauty.
Video examples
US politics isn't...
in any innovation, results and accountability. Now, before you think that I'm just making a naive overpromise of some crazy, unattainable utopia, I want to clarify that I'm not.
Video examples
Listening to shame -...
shame for women is this web of unattainable conflicting competing expectations about who were supposed to be and it's a straitjacket for men shame is not a bunch of competing
Video examples
The birth of virtual...
Look familiar? Music led me on a path of searching for what seemed like the unattainable for a very long time.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Gabriel Medina
Brazilian Athlete
That was my dream, to compete against the best surfers in the best waves. But as a kid, it all seemed so unattainable. It was this big dream, but deep down I never thought it could really happen. But my parents always believed I could do it, and they helped me get through all the stages and take all the right steps.
Quote examples
Nicholas Gonzalez
American Actor
A lot of really good actors are able to go straight from life to their work. They don't treat it as something that's an unattainable, weird thing that they have to aspire to and reach for in a scene.
Quote examples
Karan Johar
Indian Director
I think that I have self esteem issues, really. If you really analyse it... People who really like me I have no interest in. The unattainable is always that I want to attain.
Quote examples
Sean Evans
American Entertainer
Celebrity is this thing that's unattainable. This unattainable lifestyle. This unattainable social status. But there's nothing more commonplace than dying from hot sauce.
Quote examples
William Osler
Canadian Scientist
In seeking absolute truth we aim at the unattainable and must be content with broken portions.
Quote examples
Joseph B. Wirthlin
American Businessman
Perfection is worth striving for, even if it is ultimately unattainable in this life.
Quote examples
Irving Howe
American Historian
The knowledge that makes us cherish innocence makes innocence unattainable.
Quote examples
George Wald
American Scientist
I tell my students to try early in life to find an unattainable objective.
Quote examples
Aldous Huxley
English Novelist
Man approaches the unattainable truth through a succession of errors.
Quote examples
Dorothea Lange
American Photographer
The visual life is an enormous undertaking, practically unattainable.
Quote examples
Gabriel Medina
Brazilian Athlete
That was my dream, to compete against the best surfers in the best waves. But as a kid, it all seemed so unattainable. It was this big dream, but deep down I never thought it could really happen. But my parents always believed I could do it, and they helped me get through all the stages and take all the right steps.
Quote examples
Nicholas Gonzalez
American Actor
A lot of really good actors are able to go straight from life to their work. They don't treat it as something that's an unattainable, weird thing that they have to aspire to and reach for in a scene.
Quote examples
Karan Johar
Indian Director
I think that I have self esteem issues, really. If you really analyse it... People who really like me I have no interest in. The unattainable is always that I want to attain.
Quote examples
Sean Evans
American Entertainer
Celebrity is this thing that's unattainable. This unattainable lifestyle. This unattainable social status. But there's nothing more commonplace than dying from hot sauce.
Quote examples
William Osler
Canadian Scientist
In seeking absolute truth we aim at the unattainable and must be content with broken portions.
Quote examples
Joseph B. Wirthlin
American Businessman
Perfection is worth striving for, even if it is ultimately unattainable in this life.
Quote examples
Irving Howe
American Historian
The knowledge that makes us cherish innocence makes innocence unattainable.
Quote examples
George Wald
American Scientist
I tell my students to try early in life to find an unattainable objective.
Quote examples
Aldous Huxley
English Novelist
Man approaches the unattainable truth through a succession of errors.
Quote examples
Dorothea Lange
American Photographer
The visual life is an enormous undertaking, practically unattainable.
Example 1 of 10
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