Thesaurus results for IMPASSE

impasse

noun

ˈim-ˌpas

Definition of impasse

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

Relevance

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of impasse But discussions reached an impasse earlier this month, according to a statement shared on Monday by the Indigenous Conservation Council of the Chesapeake Bay, a consortium of all seven tribes, at a program committee meeting. — Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 23 Sep. 2026 That impasse turned ugly, and truth be told, the relationship was never the same between Johansen and management. — Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 The impasse prompted Martin to look beyond the Beatles’ usual instrumental palette. — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026 Reddington had to talk around this impasse, badgering Clancy’s providers about matters such as their use of telemedicine, as though this wasn’t standard practice. — Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for impasse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impasse

Noun

The government that came soon after brought it all to a screeching, heavily consequential halt.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
But ongoing deportations from the United States threaten to bring these transfers, which are a lifeline for the country’s economy and its people, to a halt.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of halt

Noun

In Brittle Magic, Newbery honoree Kate O’Shaughnessy introduces us to a young girl in a similar predicament.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Back on Earth, the band remain comatose and their predicament triggers an obscure rule of the underworld known as the Coma Clause, which keeps the Gates of Hell open to them for as long as their bodies remain alive.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of predicament

Noun

Though largely peaceful, the protests have added to an already monthlong political crisis following a deadlock of over 19 months that has blocked the election of a president and led to two early elections.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
Alito’s recusal means oral arguments next Monday will include only the other eight justices, leaving open the possibility of a 4-4 deadlock.

— Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of deadlock

Noun

The drug dilemma Don Moulds sounds exasperated when talking about prescription drugs, which have been political fuel for more than a decade.

— Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
But strains at the top of the organization over its brand and direction reflect many premium news outlets’ dilemmas about survival and profit in a post-traffic, AI-ascendant media age.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of dilemma

Noun

The Houthis had been fighting the Saudis since 2015 in Yemen’s civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people before settling into a stalemate and an uneasy ceasefire in 2022.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
The buildup comes as the war, now in its eighth month, remains stuck in a stalemate.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of stalemate

Noun

Her sister Judith can grow huge pumpkins, her twin brother Sammy can heal ailing plants, and her Auntie Dee makes pickles that can predict the future.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
The burger will drip all over your fries, which are included and cut like pickle chips.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of pickle

Noun

The average user on both a sportsbook and prediction market loses money, and trying to claw back losses puts users in even deeper financial holes, experts warn.

— Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
Walker split a hole created by Trey Smith and Jaylon Moore on the right side of the line, never broke stride and sprinted 76 yards down the right side to set up the Chiefs’ go-ahead touchdown pass to Thornton in the fourth quarter.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of hole

Browse Nearby Words

impassable

impasse

impasses

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Style

“Impasse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasse. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of impasse

noun

Example Sentences

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