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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The authors advocate for a complete halt in superintelligent AI development.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
19 Sep. 2025
-
His five-year tenure came to a screeching halt after the designer did not appear at the end of the fall 2011 show.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
19 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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The deadlock leaves Congress and the federal government in limbo.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
19 Sep. 2025
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The evenly split council, with no tie-breaking vote, has revealed a lack of leadership at City Hall, as two hearings ended in deadlock.—
Veronica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Her bi-monthly AI Logs column explores the latest trends, breakthroughs, and ethical dilemmas in AI, delivering expert analysis and fresh insights.—
The AI Insider,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Sep. 2025
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Economists often refer to such situations as a prisoner’s dilemma, in which individuals, businesses, or countries could theoretically benefit from coöperating with one another but also have, or are presented with, incentives to act selfishly and cut their own deals.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
22 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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Flavors range from classic dill and bread and butter to the more exotic like maple bourbon, gin, and sweet ginger pickles.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
19 Sep. 2025
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Anyone who has hung out at Cerebral Brewing over the past year is familiar with Outside Pizza, a vintage green and white teardrop trailer that serves Neopolitan-style pies (including the cult favorite pickle pizza) to hungry beer drinkers.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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New York could use help across the board, but the infield and the pitching staff are likely the two biggest holes on the roster.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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Such landscapes were once common in North America — both in the west (where prairie dog colonies provided an abundance of holes) and in Florida (where the owls generally dig their own).—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impasse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasse. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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