Im-prăc'ti-ca-ble, a.
a. [Prefix im and practicable, q. v.; Fr. & Sp. impracticable, It. impraticabile.]
- Not practicable; incapable of being practiced, performed, or accomplished by the means employed or at command; impossible; as, an impracticable undertaking.
- Not easily managed or controlled; untractable; stubborn.
This tough, impracticable heart Is governed by a dainty-fingered girl. Rowe. Made a knot as hard as life Of those loose, soft, impracticable curls. E. B. Browning. 3. Not to be overcome or persuaded by any reasonable method;—used in a general sense, as applied to a person or thing that is difficult to control or get along with; not capable of being easily dealt with. Patriotic but loyal men went away disgusted afresh with the impracticable arrogance of a sovereign whose errors they had but too much reason to condemn and deplore, but had not yet become indisposed to forgive. Palfrey. 4. Incapable of being passed or traveled; as, an impracticable road. Syn. — Impossible; infeasible. — IMPRACTICABLE, IMPOSSIBLE. A thing is impracticable when it can not be accomplished by any human means at present possessed; a thing is impossible when the laws of nature forbid it. The navigation of a river may now be impracticable, but not impossible, because the existing obstructions may yet be removed. “The barons exercised the most despotic authority over their vassals, and every scheme of public utility was rendered impracticable by their continued petty wars with each other.” Mickle. “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matt. xix. 26.