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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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 incidents occurred amid uncertainty over whether Kyiv diplomats will participate in a new round of peace talks proposed by Moscow on Monday in Istanbul, and amid growing frustration in Washington over the impasse between Russia and Ukraine.
—
Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 1 June 2025
The number of girl slaps exchanged between the governor and Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez over the state budget impasse.
—Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025
At the center of the impasse is Iran's insistence on its right to enrich uranium on its own soil—something the U.S. and its allies view as a potential pathway to nuclear weapons.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
The jury of six men and six women declared themselves at an impasse after multiple days of deliberation, unable to reach a unanimous verdict on all three charges.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 1 June 2025
The number of girl slaps exchanged between the governor and Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez over the state budget impasse.
—Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025
At the center of the impasse is Iran's insistence on its right to enrich uranium on its own soil—something the U.S. and its allies view as a potential pathway to nuclear weapons.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
The jury of six men and six women declared themselves at an impasse after multiple days of deliberation, unable to reach a unanimous verdict on all three charges.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impasse
Noun
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About three-quarters of the way through the video, the song screeches to a halt, as the video shows four men listening to a boombox.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
5 July 2025
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On the conflict in Ukraine, Ushakov said Trump emphasized his push for a quick halt to the fighting, and Putin voiced Moscow’s readiness to pursue talks with Kyiv, noting the previous rounds in Turkey yielded humanitarian results.—
Vladimir Isachenkov,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
Noun
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Christopher Boyle of New York County Defender Services and one of Bernier’s lawyers said anecdotally there are many others on Rikers Island in a similar predicament.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2025
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Rodriguez discussed Rose's predicament in an interview on New York City's WFAN radio last week, and made a startling claim about baseball's all-time hits leader.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
Noun
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It’s cleverly done, with the audience treated to a young Ollie Rathbone weaving in and out of an opposition defence to score with a thumping finish in junior football just moments before being shown doing exactly the same to break the deadlock after 15 minutes.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
27 June 2025
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Giving more countries a veto might result in nothing but more deadlock.—
Amanda Chicago Lewis,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The feed surfaces chats containing legal dilemmas, therapy discussions, and deeply personal confessions, often linked to real accounts.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
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The dilemma GenAI faces is similar to past hyped technology cycles like IoT or blockchain.—
Leonard Lee,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
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The tiny Finnish Army—utilizing soldiers on skis and bikes—held the Russians to a three-month stalemate.—
Patrick Sauer,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 June 2025
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Then the game froze up, with the teams playing at a stalemate going into the third period.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2025
Noun
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Stir together mayonnaise, pickle juice, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
30 June 2025
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Served with baby potatoes, bread, and mixed pickles, a fondue is the perfect way to warm up after a day on the slopes or hiking through the valley.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
22 June 2025
Noun
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Fuller was then released in February, and the Dolphins still have a major hole for starting-caliber cornerbacks ahead of nickel Kader Kohou after the draft.—
David Furones,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2025
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Now that hole is being filled with full service, amenitized buildings and a public park along the two mile canal.—
Shimon Shkury,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impasse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasse. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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