impasses

noun

plural of impasse
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

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impasses
  1. halts
  2. dilemmas
  3. stalemates
  4. predicaments
  5. deadlocks
  6. pickles
  7. logjams
  8. holes
Noun
  • The automatic stay halts proceedings but doesn't compel creditors to undo pre-petition filings without operative effect.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • Since prolonged production halts can cause permanent damage to oil wells, shutting them down is typically a last resort.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 June 2026
Definition of halts
Noun
  • Posthumous publishing comes with its fair share of ethical dilemmas.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 24 July 2026
  • Expect plenty of action, interpersonal tensions and philosophical dilemmas around destiny and morality.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of dilemmas
Noun
  • The legislation's passage represented a rare moment of bipartisan achievement in a Congress that has been marked by obstruction and a series of stalemates.
    — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 24 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of stalemates
Noun
  • 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
Definition of predicaments
Noun
  • Across 10 trials, the system achieved a 90 percent autonomous success rate with four robots and 70 percent with eight, while recovering from navigation errors and formation deadlocks without human assistance.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
  • Having killed Downey, Amos cuts one of his deadlocks and puts it in Axel’s little red book.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
Definition of deadlocks
Noun
  • The platter comes with a table-full of colorful salads and dips, including pickles and olives imported from Israel.
    — Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • These items include Shake Shack’s West Coast burger, served with Angus beef, American cheese, caramelized onions and pickles dipped in honey mustard on a potato bun.
    — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of pickles
Noun
  • Tracy said those will be issues the Red Sox will have to sort out, but noted that these sorts of logjams often have a way of working themselves out.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 28 June 2026
  • After clearing logjams in the White House and House of Representatives, the legislation drew broad support in an election year where both parties are increasingly aware that voters have said they're fed up with the high cost of living.
    — Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 24 June 2026
Definition of logjams
Noun
  • The tournament promises an exciting conclusion with 36 holes still to play.
    — Mike Fore, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • Tony Finau trailed Scott Piercy by five shots with 11 holes to play on Sunday in 2022.
    — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 July 2026
Definition of holes

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Cite this Entry

“Impasses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impasses. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of impasses for Spanish Speakers

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