plural impasses
: a situation in which no progress seems possible
Negotiations are at an impasse. = Negotiations have reached/hit an impasse.
An arbitrator was called in to break the impasse.
She had reached an impasse in her career.
Cite this Entry
“Impasse.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/impasse. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy Citation
