impasse

American  

[im-pas, im-pas] / ˈɪm pæs, ɪmˈpæs /

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.

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impasse British  

/ ˈæmpɑːs, ɪmˈpɑːs, æmˈpɑːs, ˈɪmpɑːs /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of impasse

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

Example Sentences

It is the second such government shutdown in the past year and comes just 11 weeks after the end of the previous funding impasse which lasted 43 days, the longest in US history.

From BBC

The first half ends with Benedict and Sophie at a crossroads, an impasse.

From Los Angeles Times

That doesn’t necessarily mean the impasse will continue.

From The Wall Street Journal

We come to this impasse of our own making.

From Salon

The latest operation broke an impasse after more than a year of negotiations between the SDF and the new Damascus government.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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