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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impasse
As the impasse dragged on, frustrated townspeople took matters into their own hands, literally locking the indecisive cardinals inside the meeting hall and even removing the roof to speed the process.
—
Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
An impasse means the district and the union will continue negotiating, but with the help of a mediator.
—Melanie Asmar, Denver Post, 7 May 2025
After more than a year of bargaining, the union representing roughly 800 City of Portland workers declared an impasse in contract negotiations and could strike as soon as next month.
—Axios Portland, Axios, 7 May 2025
The impasse between government and academia could not have come at a more dangerous time.
—Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
An impasse means the district and the union will continue negotiating, but with the help of a mediator.
—Melanie Asmar, Denver Post, 7 May 2025
After more than a year of bargaining, the union representing roughly 800 City of Portland workers declared an impasse in contract negotiations and could strike as soon as next month.
—Axios Portland, Axios, 7 May 2025
The impasse between government and academia could not have come at a more dangerous time.
—Adrian Wooldridge, Twin Cities, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for impasse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impasse
Noun
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That was after the pandemic lockdown brought concerts — and much of the world — shuddering to a halt in 2020 and much of 2021 (and before the COVID resurgence that followed).—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2025
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Finding that the 1977 law Trump invoked to impose his sweeping tariffs does not actually give him the power to do so, the court ordered a permanent halt to the duties and barred any future modifications.—
Josephine Rozzelle,
CNBC,
29 May 2025
Noun
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The cops are making progress, the bikers are sharpening their shivs, the main duo’s relationship is being tested and Ray is dealing with his own family issues, while Manny is facing his own piercing predicament.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
21 May 2025
-
Sheriff Martinez could easily resolve this predicament of her own making.—
Pedro Rios,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a trilateral meeting between himself, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin to break the deadlock on ending Moscow's invasion.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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Now, the city faces the challenge of operating up to six months with just six council members, increasing the risk of deadlocks on important decisions, after the council failed to appoint an interim council member on Tuesday.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Many of Cuomo’s mayoral race opponents have condemned the spending, saying the PAC gives him an unfair advantage in the race and poses an ethical dilemma since many of its contributors have city government business interests.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2025
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Through exclusive access to whistleblower testimony, pivotal audio recordings, and footage from the company’s early days, the film provides an unprecedented look at the technical challenges, moral dilemmas, and shockingly poor decisions that culminated in the catastrophic expedition.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
22 May 2025
Noun
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The more important goal here is to achieve deterrence, similar to the stalemate in the Cold War with the Soviet Union that was based on nuclear weapons.—
Iain Boyd,
The Conversation,
22 May 2025
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When Narváez broke the scoreless stalemate with his blast, Rob Refsnyder held the cover aloft in the dugout.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
21 May 2025
Noun
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With them, came pickles, tomato sauce and jammy eggs.—
Laurie Ochoa,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
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Subsequent clips show Bad Bunny threatening a bruised and boxer-clad Hank, and Regina King trying to help the unintentional accomplice out of the pickle that he’s suddenly found himself in.—
Emlyn Travis Published,
EW.com,
21 May 2025
Noun
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For decades, conservationists successfully plugged that hole by arguing in court that the ESA’s prohibition of harm to individual species includes destroying a species’ habitat.—
Emma Marris,
The Atlantic,
25 May 2025
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Other cavity nesters such as woodpeckers will make holes in trees, and those can also be adopted by tree swallows, flickers, kestrels and chickadees.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impasse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasse. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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