Synonyms of impasse

impasse

noun

ˈim-ˌpas 

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

• halt
• deadlock
• stalemate
• gridlock
• standstill
• standoff
• predicament
• jam
• logjam
• dilemma
• Mexican standoff
• problem
• quandary
• pickle
• plight
• bottleneck
• hole
• bind
• quagmire
• morass
• dead end
• fix
• corner
• difficulty
• pinch
• spot

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

• predicament
• dilemma
• pickle
• hole
• bind
• swamp
• corner
• jam
• difficulty
• quagmire
• mire
• fix
• box
• crisis
• rabbit hole
• spot
• kettle of fish
• jackpot
• plight
• rattrap
• sticky wicket
• catch-22
• deadlock
• stalemate
• quandary
• trouble
• hot water
• node
• soup
• standstill
• emergency
• halt
• crossroad
• exigency
• logjam
• pinch
• juncture
• strait
• clutch
• scrape

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of impasse

As an impasse between the union representing Fort Worth’s firefighters and the city over contract negotiations continues, Fort Worth City Council members have weighed in. — Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026

Only a small number of projects require involvement from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Bronin, the former ACHP chair, said, and fewer still end in an impasse. — Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026

Tasjan had reached an impasse after releasing 2024’s excellent Stellar Evolution and snagging a Grammy nomination. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2026

The Athletic reported in March that FSG had effectively shelved plans to buy a second club with Edwards left frustrated by the impasse. — James Pearce, New York Times, 10 July 2026