Impasse

Pronunciation

• UK
• US

Origin

1851 Borrowing from fr {{2}} impasse, from in- + passer.

Noun

1. a road with no exit; a cul-de-sac
2. a deadlock or stalemate situation in which no progress can be made
• 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, “It seems to me the thing's an impasse. French expression,” I explained, “meaning that we're stymied good and proper with no hope of finding a formula.”
• 2010, Clare Vanderpool, "Young man, this town is at a bit of an impasse. If you have any suggestion that might help, now would be the time to voice it."

Anagrams

• pessima