1
as in halts
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 dilemmas
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
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Recent Examples of impasses
Some of the money is frozen due to budgetary or legal impasses.
—
Caio Delcolli, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025
Such impasses typically end when one party decides the political costs of keeping the government closed outweigh the concessions of opening it.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2025
YouTube has navigated similar impasses with other entertainment companies this year.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Similar sticking points have led to impasses in the separate negotiation processes, now requiring a third party to assist with mediation and fact-finding.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
Another reason is that these funding impasses are often covered by the media.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2025
Caio Delcolli, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025
Such impasses typically end when one party decides the political costs of keeping the government closed outweigh the concessions of opening it.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2025
YouTube has navigated similar impasses with other entertainment companies this year.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Similar sticking points have led to impasses in the separate negotiation processes, now requiring a third party to assist with mediation and fact-finding.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
Another reason is that these funding impasses are often covered by the media.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impasses
Noun
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The abrupt disruption resulted in chip shortages and production halts at several automakers.—
Sarah Jacob,
Bloomberg,
14 Jan. 2026
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Conflict in Yemen has prompted air traffic halts — leaving about 600 tourists stranded on a remote island.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Three Tri-Valley school districts are facing significant financial dilemmas heading into next year, with budget cuts and potential layoffs threatening to hit classrooms.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
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Readers send Miss Manners not only their table and party questions, but those involving the more complicated aspects of life - romance, work, family relationships, child-rearing, death - as well as philosophical and moral dilemmas.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 prompted unified Western sanctions, massive military aid, and rhetorical solidarity, but by late 2025, strategic divergences had widened amid battlefield stalemates, economic fatigue, and diplomatic initiatives.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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The stalemates were the latest in the finger-pointing between Democrats and Republicans over who was responsible for the prolonged shutdown.—
Lawrence Andrea,
jsonline.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Rustin has slyly given her script a focus on women’s needs and feelings, a welcome departure for a genre that usually is more concerned about the men’s predicaments.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Jan. 2026
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Brooks’s screenplay makes ample space to dump praise upon its protagonist while bemoaning her many predicaments.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Having killed Downey, Amos cuts one of his deadlocks and puts it in Axel’s little red book.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2025
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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for reform of the Security Council's permanent members in his annual statement on the anniversary of the United Nations charter, arguing that the current establishment excludes key global voices and suffers from too many deadlocks.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Serve it with or without a bun plus your favorite toppings like pickles, slaw, and extra sauce.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2026
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Sook by Maydan is offering a $ 15-per-person Dine LA lunch menu with a choice of beef wrap or chicken shish taouk wrap, served with house pickles, labneh spread, and a farmers market side salad.—
Kaila Yu,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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To avoid the logistical logjams that had been predicted, the rollout is being staggered.—
Julia Buckley,
CNN Money,
10 Oct. 2025
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The city has also removed 50 logjams from the Rouge River, Hammoud said.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The concern was because the final two holes were the most exposed on the course.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
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That process involves collecting acorns and then pecking small holes in trees where they are stored for winter use.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impasses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasses. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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