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

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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

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 Who better to help dissect the impasse than someone who was actively involved in NBA front-office negotiations for a living? — John Hollinger, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Oil prices are hovering above $90 a barrel, as talks between Iran and the United States remain at an impasse. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026 The California Faculty Association, which represents 29,000 lecturers, professors, librarians, counselors and coaches in the 22-campus system, declared an impasse in its negotiations for a new contract with the CSU in July. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 However, after weeks of meetings, the prospects for a deal remained uncertain Monday, and Canadian broadcaster CBC reported that the two countries were at an impasse. — Kayla Steinberg, NBC news, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for impasse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impasse

Noun

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and the 17 states that sued California over its packaging law aimed at reducing plastic waste filed a request last week for a temporary halt to the rollout of the policy.

— Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Far from transforming the country’s politics, however, this dominance has ground it to a halt.

— Duncan McCargo, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of halt

Noun

Perhaps cognisant of the last time one of his fighters — fellow British heavyweight Fabio Wardley — was in a similar predicament during his bout against Dubois in May.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
While few family businesses are like the Lakers, the broad strokes of the Buss family's predicament are familiar, according to lawyers who spoke to CNBC.

— Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of predicament

Noun

The trial-scheduling order entered by Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schrama marked the latest milestone in a military prosecution beset by two decades of legal deadlock surrounding the four detainees held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

— Steve Gorman, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
After Keira Barry’s free kick attempt hit off the post, Girelli broke the deadlock in the 89th minute, finishing the rebound for the winner.

— Phuoc Nguyen, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of deadlock

Noun

Getty Images The plight of the A’s in Oakland and the Rays in Tampa Bay has been a Major League Baseball dilemma for decades, spanning the careers of the last two commissioners, Rob Manfred and Bud Selig.

— Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Gaines and White talked at length at halftime of Friday’s game about their convictions on the trans in women’s sports dilemma.

— Patricia Babcock McGraw OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of dilemma

Noun

Freebairn said an old pickle jar can hold a starter, and an ordinary bowl can substitute for a proofing basket.

— Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
The kitchen’s electrical oven roasts them during the daytime; they’re then chilled and served cold, with hot sauce, a ramekin of mayonnaise, and a pile of pickle spears.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of pickle

Noun

McIlroy surged into the top-10 on Saturday with a 7-under 63, powered by nine birdies, including three in his final four holes.

— Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
The researchers engineered an additional GaN layer that naturally creates a second sheet containing mobile holes, called a two-dimensional hole gas, or 2DHG.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of hole

Browse Nearby Words

impassable

impasse

impasses

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“Impasse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasse. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of impasse

noun

Example Sentences

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