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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impasse
Maybe Tom noticed the group was still at an impasse with three minutes to go.
—
Tessa West, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
The impasse got the attention of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who expressed impatience with it even though his agency does not have jurisdiction in carriage disputes.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
On Thursday, the Dallas Cowboys resolved the Micah Parsons contract impasse by trading the star pass rusher to the Green Bay Packers.
—Eduardo Razo, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Both companies blame each other for the impasse.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Tessa West, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
The impasse got the attention of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who expressed impatience with it even though his agency does not have jurisdiction in carriage disputes.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
On Thursday, the Dallas Cowboys resolved the Micah Parsons contract impasse by trading the star pass rusher to the Green Bay Packers.
—Eduardo Razo, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Both companies blame each other for the impasse.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impasse
Noun
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But just as the journey was about to begin, COVID-19 forced everything to a halt.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
13 Sep. 2025
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At Walt Disney World in Orlando free buses from the airport to its on-site hotels ground to a halt along with contactless room keys which came in the form of collectable wristbands.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The city’s current trash predicament traces back to Measure B, a successful 2022 city ballot measure that ended the decades-long practice of San Diego providing no-fee trash service to single-family homes and many small townhome and apartment complexes.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Sep. 2025
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Although Harold is not literary fiction’s first obsessive ruminator, what makes Muscle Man feel so plugged into the moment is how common the predicament feels.—
Jeremy Gordon,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Ceasefire talks ended in deadlock in July.—
Emily Rose,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
-
On June 30, three months into the standoff, the Missouri Senate Insurance and Banking Committee called the two sides in for a hearing that broke months of deadlock and prompted new proposals from Anthem.—
Bram Sable-Smith,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The company applies a sociological attention to the gestures and dilemmas of people’s daily routines; once harvested, these insights are quickly incorporated into product designs.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
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Drone dilemma The US excels at building large, expensive weaponry, but most American soldiers lack the know-how for fighting with unmanned systems.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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After more than three years of fighting, the war has reached a stalemate on both the battlefield and diplomatic fronts.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
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It's been widely reported that Boston Celtics free agent center Al Horford is planning to ink a deal with the Warriors as soon as the stalemate with Kuminga is resolved.—
Gabe Smallson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Those lessons will have to come quickly, considering the season pickle the Chiefs have put themselves in.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Top with chicken mixture and pickle slices.—
Mary Claire Britton,
Southern Living,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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On the 18th hole of the final match, Nicklaus sank his par putt and then conceded Tony Jacklin’s short par putt, ensuring both the match and the Ryder Cup ended in a tie.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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My only shot was through a hole the size of a business card between some limbs.—
Jack Atcheson Sr. as told to Michael Hanback,
Outdoor Life,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impasse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasse. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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