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impasse

[ im-pas, im-pas ]

/ ˈɪm pæs, ɪmˈpæs /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR impasse ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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

Origin of impasse

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

SYNONYMS FOR impasse

1 stalemate, standstill, standoff, dead end.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR impasse ON THESAURUS.COM

Words nearby impasse

imparlance, impart, impartial, impartible, impassable, impasse, impassible, impassion, impassionate, impassioned, impassive

Example sentences from the Web for impasse

And a coup probably would exacerbate the economic problems that months of friction, violence and impasse have wrought.

Thailand’s Non-Coup Coup |Lennox Samuels |May 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
And Kerry said that both Israeli and Palestinian leaders share the blame for the current impasse in the talks.

Exclusive: Kerry Warns Israel Could Become ‘An Apartheid State’ |Josh Rogin |April 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
We believe that we may be close to such an impasse, and we want to present the Commandant with options.

Gagging the Corps: A Marine Commandant’s War on Newsprint |David Abrams |February 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
For now, an impasse holds Ukraine in a limbo punctuated by violent outbursts.

Up to Speed: What’s Going on in Ukraine? |Nina Strochlic |February 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

In the meantime, expect attitudes to harden—and the country to remain at impasse.

Grenade Attack Hits Downtown Bangkok |Lennox Samuels |January 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Yes, he was in love; and he recognized the impasse as fully as Mina herself, although with more self-restraint.

Tristram of Blent |Anthony Hope
I have come to see that we shall never get out of the impasse in which we seem to have been caught unless someone takes a stand.

The Dust Flower |Basil King
What we possess anybody can get in a morning's walk; we find that we have travelled a long distance, and have come to an impasse.

The Book-Collector |William Carew Hazlitt
The impasse with Zoe still continues, and my peace of mind has been still further disturbed by the actual arrival of Rosa.

Diary of a U-Boat Commander |Anonymous
The impasse was so horrible that she could not face it even in her thoughts.

El Dorado |Baroness Orczy

British Dictionary definitions for impasse

impasse

/ (æmˈpɑːs, ˈæmpɑːs, ɪmˈpɑːs, ˈɪmpɑːs) /

noun

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

Word Origin for impasse

C19: from French; see im-, pass