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
Advertising slid 17% to $22.9M, with the company citing a carriage impasse with TelevisaUnivision, which resulted in its networks going dark on Fubo during the quarter.
—
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 2 May 2025
So far, both sides have publicly indicated little intent to take any tangible first step to resolve the impasse and limit the global economic fallout from tit-for-tat measures.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025
If the impasse continues, Liverpool will have a big decision to make.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Here’s what to know about where U.S.-China trade talks stand and how experts characterize the impasse:
What is the Trump administration saying about U.S.-China trade talks?
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 2 May 2025
So far, both sides have publicly indicated little intent to take any tangible first step to resolve the impasse and limit the global economic fallout from tit-for-tat measures.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025
If the impasse continues, Liverpool will have a big decision to make.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Here’s what to know about where U.S.-China trade talks stand and how experts characterize the impasse:
What is the Trump administration saying about U.S.-China trade talks?
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impasse
Noun
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People magazine similarly reported the relationship has come to a halt.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2025
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However, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought Broadway to a halt, Koguchi found herself in a foreign country, unable to perform.—
J.M. Banks,
Kansas City Star,
17 May 2025
Noun
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Fey lays out a number of ways to deal with this predicament.—
Belinda Luscombe,
Time,
9 May 2025
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So their only way out of this predicament is also the hardest — trading the star who elevated the team for a decade.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2025
Noun
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For decades, the idea of big-league baseball in Orlando felt like nothing more than a mirage; especially in the shadow of the Tampa Bay Rays and the persistent deadlock surrounding a permanent stadium deal in the Bay area.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 May 2025
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But the cluster model offers a way to break persistent deadlocks on other, more controversial areas of policy, such as defense or climate action, by allowing groups of like-minded European states to cooperate more deeply without the constraint of needing EU-wide unanimity.—
Sophia Besch,
Foreign Affairs,
5 May 2025
Noun
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The National Women’s Soccer League, which raised its media rights fees nearly 60 times over with a series of deals that kicked off in 2024, finds itself in a similar dilemma.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., avoided addressing the dilemma with reporters on Wednesday.—
Claudia Grisales,
NPR,
14 May 2025
Noun
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Auston Matthews scored his first goal in the second round of the playoffs to break a tense stalemate and give the Leafs a grinding 2-0 win.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
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Bipartisan economic solutions, instead of partisan stalemates, are possible in this unique moment.—
Cleve Mesidor,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Noun
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The salt, fat and juice smother the pickles and mustard, snuffing out the vinegar and tang.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
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At one point during the game, Ottawa had packets of mustard and pickle juice on the bench, according to rinkside reporter Kelly Greig.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
Noun
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The pots are thoughtfully designed with a drainage hole to avoid overwatering, enhance proper airflow, and keep your plants healthy.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
13 May 2025
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The screws may loosen and allow engine oil to leak from the screw holes, according to the recall report.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impasse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasse. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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