unobtainable

adjective

un·​ob·​tain·​able ˌən-əb-ˈtā-nə-bəl How to pronounce unobtainable (audio)
-äb-
: not capable of being obtained : not available : not obtainable
an unobtainable objective
a gem so rare as to be virtually unobtainable

Examples of unobtainable in a Sentence

that information is unobtainable as long as my computer is down
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Technological advances since the mid-1970s, including acoustic and satellite telemetry, inexpensive underwater cameras, and aerial and underwater drones, have given us insights into the biology, ecology, and behavior of sharks that were previously unobtainable. Hans Walters, New York Daily News, 19 July 2025 On the Palestinian issue, meanwhile, the United States should resist the temptation—still present in some circles in the Obama administration—to try to push the parties toward a comprehensive solution in the near term, because such a settlement is currently unobtainable. Natan Sachs, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2015 Unlike deterrence by punishment, which threatens consequences like economic sanctions, a strategy of denial seeks to convince an aggressor that its objectives are unobtainable, by making the likelihood of a catastrophic military defeat more credible. John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025 Since then, Mbeumo has seemingly become unobtainable. Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for unobtainable

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unobtainable was in 1653

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unobtainable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unobtainable. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on unobtainable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!