impasse

[im-pas, im-pas]

noun

1. a position or situation from which there is no escape; deadlock.

   Synonyms: dead end, standoff, standstill, stalemate

2. a road or way that has no outlet; cul-de-sac.

impasse

/ ˈæmpɑːs, ɪmˈpɑːs, æmˈpɑːs, ˈɪmpɑːs /

noun

1. a situation in which progress is blocked; an insurmountable difficulty; stalemate; deadlock

Word History and Origins

Origin of impasse¹

1850–55; < French, equivalent to im- im- ² + -passe, stem of passer to pass

Word History and Origins

Origin of impasse¹

C19: from French; see _im- , _pass

Example Sentences

Air-traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration workers find themselves caught in the middle of the impasse—and they don’t want to be used as a political football again.

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The impasse has left the Fed partly blind after critical economic data, such as the September employment report, were postponed.

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France just lost its fourth prime minister in a little over a year amid an impasse over taming its debt.

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A phone call between the leaders that might have helped break the impasse, according to people familiar with the matter, didn’t materialize.

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The U.S. sought a leader-level phone call the week of July 28 to help break an impasse over trade, but India was reluctant, the official said.

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Related Words

• deadlock 
• dilemma 
• gridlock 
• predicament 
• standoff 
• standstill