impractical
adjective
im·prac·ti·cal
(ˌ)im-ˈprak-ti-kəl 
: not practical: such as
a
: not wise to put into or keep in practice or effect
Small cars are impractical for large families.
b
: incapable of dealing sensibly or prudently with practical matters
a dreamy and impractical young man
c
: impracticable
an impractical plan
d
: not having a realistic or practical basis : idealistic
an impractical pipe dream
Examples of impractical in a Sentence
Little sports cars are impractical for large families.
He was a dreamy and impractical young man.
Recent Examples on the Web
Because large steel structures warp and expand under intense heat and magnetic forces, maintaining a tight seal between unjoined rings has previously been impractical.
—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
4 July 2026
That restriction makes Europe impractical for the traditional four- to six-month snowbird lifestyle many retirees prefer.
—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Such pieces are undeniably art works—precious, impractical, one of a kind.
—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Think sculptural silhouettes, surreal details, unusual materials, and shapes that border on impractical in the best possible way.
—
Erin Bunch,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for impractical
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Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
4 July 2026
That restriction makes Europe impractical for the traditional four- to six-month snowbird lifestyle many retirees prefer.
—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Such pieces are undeniably art works—precious, impractical, one of a kind.
—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Think sculptural silhouettes, surreal details, unusual materials, and shapes that border on impractical in the best possible way.
—
Erin Bunch,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for impractical
Cite this Entry
“Impractical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impractical. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impractical
adjective
im·prac·ti·cal
(ˈ)im-ˈprak-ti-kəl
: not practical: as
a
: not wise to put into or keep in practice or effect
an impractical rule disliked by many
b
: incapable of dealing sensibly with practical matters
c
: impracticable
the new gadgets were complicated and impractical
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