1
as in halt
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in
in their bitter custody battle, the divorcing couple are at a total impasse
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2
as in predicament
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
the impossible impasse faced by those who opposed the war but did not want to seem disloyal to the troops
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impasse
The impasse in the Senate hinges on a criminal investigation into Powell that was launched by the Justice Department over a renovation to the Fed's headquarters.
—
Joe Walsh, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
The election on Sunday was the country's eighth in five years, illustrating a crippling political impasse that has gripped this Balkan nation.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
Calls for airport screening privatization may appear to be a knee-jerk reaction to the Department of Homeland Security funding impasse in Congress.
—Sheldon H. Jacobson, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
The council was split on the proposal, in the end reaching a 3-3 vote impasse, with Mayor Larry Agran and Councilmembers Betty Martinez Franco and Melinda Liu opposed, and Mike Carrol absent.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Joe Walsh, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
The election on Sunday was the country's eighth in five years, illustrating a crippling political impasse that has gripped this Balkan nation.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
Calls for airport screening privatization may appear to be a knee-jerk reaction to the Department of Homeland Security funding impasse in Congress.
—Sheldon H. Jacobson, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
The council was split on the proposal, in the end reaching a 3-3 vote impasse, with Mayor Larry Agran and Councilmembers Betty Martinez Franco and Melinda Liu opposed, and Mike Carrol absent.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impasse
Noun
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Which is why Michael’s final cut screeches to a halt in 1988, just as the star has broken out from his family and reached a new zenith as a solo performer.—
Jasmine Vojdani,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
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The Covid pandemic brought production to a halt, and then the writers and actors guild strikes shut down production again for months in 2023.—
Julia Boorstin,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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After realizing their predicament, the couple was forced to swim to a buoy about a mile from shore.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
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Gonzales has been in a similar predicament for many months longer.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Republicans hold a 12–10 edge on the committee, which means Tillis’s single vote is enough to create an 11–11 deadlock and keep the nomination frozen.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
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The European Union on Thursday approved a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) loan package to help Ukraine meet its economic and military needs for two years after oil began flowing through a key pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia, ending months of political deadlock.—
Karel Janicek,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For policymakers, the crisis caused by the Iran war poses a dilemma.—
Fabiano Maisonnave,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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This dilemma unfolded as delegates still waited to hear from all three gubernatorial candidates before casting a vote for that respective nominee.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The plan, conveyed through mediators in Pakistan to break a stalemate with Washington, calls for extending the ceasefire so the parties can work toward a permanent end to the fighting, Axios said.—
Jon Herskovitz,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
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Alex Bonetig’s goal more than five minutes into extra time made the difference for Portland (4-1-5), which threatened repeatedly late to break a 1-1 stalemate that lasted nearly the entire second half.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some Cypress Village residents are beseeching the city to keep it that way, even as the HOA applies to let the pickle balling resume.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Much of the automobile industry is in a pickle.—
Jamie Lincoln Kitman,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Carolina Panthers didn’t have many holes to fill after a successful free agency, but there were a couple.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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So, nine holes into his pro-am practice round on Thursday, hours before the real competition started, Retief Goosen changed his grip.—
Stan Awtrey,
AJC.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impasse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasse. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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