impasse

Synonyms · Usage Examples

impasse Definition

im·passe (im′pas′, im pas′)

noun

a passage open only at one end; blind alley
a situation offering no escape, as a difficulty without solution, an argument where no agreement is possible, etc.

Etymology: Fr: see in- & pass

impasse Synonyms

impasse

n.

Stalemate
deadlock, standstill, cessation; see pause 2, rest 2.
A cul-de-sac
dead end, obstacle, blind alley; see cul-de-sac, trap 1.

impasse Usage Examples

Converse of object

resolve: Premier Tony Blair is now likely to be forced to step in to resolve the impasse.
reach: However their work had reached an impasse be cause they were not able to produce enough enzyme for use in further studies.
overcome: Attempts were made however to try to overcome the apparent impasse.
break: They have got to break the impasse on this.
solve: But solving the current impasse requires a constructive contribution from the Government.
end: Such an agreement should remain a goal, but is not essential for ending the current impasse.

Preposition: at

moment: The impasse at the moment is the stand-down time between midnight and 0700 hrs.

Preposition: between

view: The contrast reflects an impasse between two world views which underlies much of what is going on at the World Summit ( WSSD ).

Adjective modifier

apparent: Attempts were made however to try to overcome the apparent impasse.
current: There are several possible ways of moving past the current impasse on CD work, none of them easy.
present: At the heart of the present impasse is US planning for national missile defense.
political: On the positive side, his proposal would not only provide an avenue out of a political impasse.
constitutional: This led to a constitutional impasse which could be resolved only by another election which took place in December 1910.

Noun used with modifier

CD: The CD impasse on the fissban is holding up disarmament and bringing embarrassment to multilateral arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament.

Preposition: in

conference: We are greatly dismayed at the continued impasse in the Conference on Disarmament.
theory: All the more so since it suggests how best to overcome the present impasse in historical theory.

Preposition: of

capitalism: The attempt to move in the direction of capitalism in Russia coincides with the impasse of capitalism on a world scale.
regime: Given the impasse of the present pro-bourgeois regime in Russia, what is likely to happen?

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