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 impasse in Washington is not directly correlated to the quality of work that TSA agents perform.
—
Beth Collums, AJC.com, 3 Apr. 2026
The impasse hasn’t stopped Anderson from flying the Yes flag on his own.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
Initial payments have faced delays due to a budget impasse.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Apr. 2026
Trump and labor unions are pushing Congress to return, but lawmakers face an impasse over Department of Homeland Security funding and immigration enforcement restrictions.
—Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Beth Collums, AJC.com, 3 Apr. 2026
The impasse hasn’t stopped Anderson from flying the Yes flag on his own.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
Initial payments have faced delays due to a budget impasse.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Apr. 2026
Trump and labor unions are pushing Congress to return, but lawmakers face an impasse over Department of Homeland Security funding and immigration enforcement restrictions.
—Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impasse
Noun
-
The bridge plunged into the Patapsco River below, killing six construction workers and bringing the major shipping artery at the Port of Baltimore to a screeching halt.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Zelenskyy said Ukraine had repeatedly proposed a halt to fighting for Orthodox Easter.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
They were considered a distant contender as the eighth championship favorite — before the injuries snowballed and created this predicament.—
Douglas Kezirian,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The term worst-case scenario doesn’t begin to accurately describe your character’s predicament in Thrash.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Morrissey, who was dancing dangerously on the blue line from his first shift of the game — and who scored the goal that broke the deadlock in Winnipeg’s favour — singlehandedly redefined Winnipeg’s margin for error in the first period against the Blues.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Taiwan is failing to adequately plan for its own defense, a former senior official warned, as the island faces a political deadlock over a military spending bill and an upcoming visit by the opposition leader to Beijing.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Since taking office in mid-2022, Marcos has grappled with multiple complex problems and political dilemmas.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Perpetrators seem to let those dilemmas slide off, like Teflon.—
Lynn DeWoskin Covarrubias,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The two chambers have been embroiled in a long stalemate over property tax cuts and have failed to pass any new comprehensive budget since 2023.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
But the war lasted six more years, much of it in a military stalemate.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And at least one pickle pope blessing people with herbs.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Chicken wings brined in salt and pickle juice, as well as salads, will also appear on the menu.—
Jenna Thompson
April 10,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Deputies noticed possible bullet holes in a parking sign in front of the business suite, which is near a church.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Rory McIlroy faded his tee shot into the pine straw, forcing a dramatic finish for his second consecutive Masters title, a final round that saw the Northern Irish golfer press his luck on the final few holes.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impasse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasse. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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