impasse

[ im-pas, im-pas ]
See synonyms for impasse on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a position or situation from which there is no escape; deadlock.

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

Origin of impasse

1
1850–55; <French, equivalent to im-im-2 + -passe, stem of passer to pass

Other words for impasse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use impasse in a sentence

  • The main streets branch out into thousands of impasses each ending in a locked door.

British Dictionary definitions for impasse

impasse

/ (æmˈpɑːs, ˈæmpɑːs, ɪmˈpɑːs, ˈɪmpɑːs) /


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

Origin of impasse

1
C19: from French; see im-, pass

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