SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
impasse
noun
A point where progress stops because agreement is impossible.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Blocked progress
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topStalemate and deadlock often concern opposed parties; standstill can arise without disagreement.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See impasse in use
The negotiations reached an impasse over the use of the courtyard.
One designer was willing to concede that the original scoring chart was difficult to read, although she still defended its basic aim. Her support for the replacement was contingent on preserving a reward for shared decisions. The other designer had resisted that condition, creating an impasse that prevented the instruction writer from finishing the booklet.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license