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
However, the talks remain at an impasse.
—
Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Both companies blame each other for the impasse.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Aug. 2025
The impasse is happening during a school year for which there is a growing chorus of people calling for change.
—Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 2025
End of an Era Busy beaver hunters started chipping away at the BB(6) problem in earnest in the 1990s and 2000s, during an impasse in the BB(5) hunt.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Both companies blame each other for the impasse.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Aug. 2025
The impasse is happening during a school year for which there is a growing chorus of people calling for change.
—Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 2025
End of an Era Busy beaver hunters started chipping away at the BB(6) problem in earnest in the 1990s and 2000s, during an impasse in the BB(5) hunt.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impasse
Noun
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The complaint also seeks the halt of all work on the project, pending the investigation the petition seeks.—
Penny Weaver,
Arkansas Online,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Instantly, traffic came to a halt on the busy corridor in Everett.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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With the bullish determination of Ed and the wide-eyed second sight of Lorraine, the Warrens’ only child sells a clear vision of right and wrong when news of the Smurls’ predicament comes their way.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
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To that end, Johnson and the CTU’s Springfield strategy has been at the forefront of all their public messaging on how the school district gets out of this fiscal predicament.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ceasefire talks ended in deadlock in July.—
Emily Rose,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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On June 30, three months into the standoff, the Missouri Senate Insurance and Banking Committee called the two sides in for a hearing that broke months of deadlock and prompted new proposals from Anthem.—
Bram Sable-Smith,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For mid-market companies, this shift presents a dilemma.—
Richard Ricks,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Wrestling over a decade with those rich character dilemmas got Vanderbilt an incredible roster of actors who here work at the height of their game.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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During the three-month stalemate between the insurer and the health system in Missouri, patients with Anthem plans lost in-network coverage with the region’s largest — and, for some specialties, only — medical provider.—
Bram Sable-Smith,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
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As Democrats remain dissatisfied with Justice Department's records compliance with a House Oversight Committee subpoena, the Rules panel is likely to resume its pressure campaign that could invariably renew the stalemate.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Not all that long ago Cadillac was in a pickle.—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Dill is an easy herb to grow and its unique anise flavor complements salads and meats and adds tang to a jar of pickles.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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As the Republican candidate stood on the fifth-hole putting green, a Secret Service agent was riding a golf cart in a security sweep of the sixth hole and noticed someone hiding behind a chain-link fence in the southeast corner of the course.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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Untangle the roots and spread them out in their planting holes.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impasse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasse. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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