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

Specifically, should the two sides reach an impasse, the dispute is decided by a three-member Board of Arbitrators. — Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 3 Nov. 2026

Finally, while frustrated by his years of struggle and especially the hurtful impact that this impasse has had on the lives of millions of Dreamers, Durbin projects confidence that this cause will prevail. — John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Official conversations — those at the bargaining table — were stalled from late July to October when the Public Employment Relations Board declared an impasse. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 31 Oct. 2026

From there, congressional leadership would have to decide how to handle the impasse, with three cases over the last five decades to draw on as precedent. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026