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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impasses
The second chapter intertwines misfortune and impasses.
—
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 10 June 2026
The Senate unanimously approved a resolution to withhold lawmakers’ pay during government shutdowns, aiming to encourage faster resolution of federal budget impasses after record-breaking closures.
—Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
How long should these impasses between words, ideas, formal breakthroughs last, anyway, in any one spell of writing?
—Dan Chiasson, The New York Review of Books, 22 Apr. 2026
While controllers may not be caught in the latest political game of chicken, proactively protecting these federal employees from paycheck lapses would prevent additional airport chaos during future funding impasses.
—Jackson Shedelbower, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 10 June 2026
The Senate unanimously approved a resolution to withhold lawmakers’ pay during government shutdowns, aiming to encourage faster resolution of federal budget impasses after record-breaking closures.
—Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
How long should these impasses between words, ideas, formal breakthroughs last, anyway, in any one spell of writing?
—Dan Chiasson, The New York Review of Books, 22 Apr. 2026
While controllers may not be caught in the latest political game of chicken, proactively protecting these federal employees from paycheck lapses would prevent additional airport chaos during future funding impasses.
—Jackson Shedelbower, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impasses
Noun
-
In practice the printer ran for about 3 months (including setup and halts), whereas a traditional cast bridge might have taken 3–4 times longer.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
-
Former leaders warn that the loss of institutional knowledge, combined with halts to the incoming pipeline of public health workers, may lead to a long-term crisis.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Lead executives Jon Wallace and Ben Tenzer will be dealing with far more pressing dilemmas on draft night and in the days that follow, but they’re also tasked with using the low-value pick to locate someone who can help Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets win immediately.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
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The regulation of our environment; the presence of chemicals both intentionally and unwittingly in our food, water, air, and land; the ecological fate of all living creatures, and of the earth itself—all these dilemmas and conundrums find urgent expression in Carson’s work.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Another reason is that the federal government is now viewed by many as so routinely dysfunctional that budget stalemates are seen as just one more example of a broader breakdown.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
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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
Noun
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Rather than bridging shortfalls, both Seattle and Washington now face more difficult fiscal predicaments, Joblon said.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
-
The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Having killed Downey, Amos cuts one of his deadlocks and puts it in Axel’s little red book.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2025
-
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
-
The renaissance embraces the pickles themselves, the flavor of their pickling and even their packaging.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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The fermentation in the miso and pickles is good for a healthy gut.—
Adam Yamaguchi,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Noun
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And that’s just one of Cleveland’s logjams.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
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Second, the Red Sox could streamline their roster and finally clear out the logjams that have gummed up the works for the past two years.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
That can leave known security holes sitting open.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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As the underground limestone dissolves, cracks and holes are created, which eventually cause the ground above to collapse.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impasses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasses. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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