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
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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
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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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impasses
Noun
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Conflict in Yemen has prompted air traffic halts — leaving about 600 tourists stranded on a remote island.—
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The fact that any soliloquy halts dramatic action also poses a challenge.—
Noun
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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.—
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The following is a breakdown of those questions and others, and the key personnel dilemmas that remain unsolved as the World Cup nears.—
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.—
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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.—
Noun
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Brooks’s screenplay makes ample space to dump praise upon its protagonist while bemoaning her many predicaments.—
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But this is just one of the many predicaments of writing memoir.—
Noun
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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.—
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Twice in recent years, the board spent months facing regular partisan deadlocks — first after Nathan Fletcher resigned in 2023 and again after Nora Vargas left office early this year.—
Noun
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Working in batches if needed, arrange pickles in a single layer in air-fryer basket (do not overcrowd).—
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Along with the usual lettuce, tomato and mayo, the inaugural customer creation, introduced for a limited time in July 2025, dressed the brand’s staple burger patty and bun with American cheese, bacon, crispy onions, and pickles with golden onion rings and a smoky BBQ sauce.—
Noun
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To avoid the logistical logjams that had been predicted, the rollout is being staggered.—
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The city has also removed 50 logjams from the Rouge River, Hammoud said.—
Noun
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Officers saw multiple bullet holes on the metal fence dividing the properties and shell casings in his backyard, the affidavit said.—
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Add a pass rusher with the first pick, a receiver in Round 2 and then spend heavily on patching holes in free agency.—
Cite this Entry
“Impasses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasses. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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