impasse
/ˈɪm.pæs/noun★Intermediate
formal
A situation in which no progress can be made, or an agreement cannot be reached due to conflicting positions or obstacles.
The negotiations reached an impasse when both sides refused to compromise.
The labor dispute remained at an impasse for weeks.
💡
Often used in diplomatic, political, or business contexts to describe deadlocks.
Collocations
reach an impasseto arrive at a deadlock or stalematebreak the impasseto resolve a deadlock or stalemate
Synonyms
Antonyms
💡Pro Tip
Usage Tip
Use 'impasse' to describe situations where no progress is possible due to opposing forces or obstacles.
📖Word Origin
Borrowed from French 'impasse,' meaning 'a blind alley' or 'a dead end,' from Old French 'en passe' (in a pass).
📝Usage Notes
Commonly used in formal contexts to describe diplomatic, political, or business deadlocks. Avoid using in casual conversation.
Word Breakdown
im-
not
prefix-pass
passage or way
root-e
noun suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary