difficult impasse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult impasse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a challenging situation where no progress can be made or where a resolution seems impossible. Example: "After hours of negotiation, we found ourselves at a difficult impasse, unable to reach an agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And it is a particularly difficult impasse.

The New York Times

With the American debate world, even in its struggles, demonstrating the potency of debate as a field for critical thinking and intellectual experimentation, an internationalization of debate could be a grounding process that might help find a way out of this difficult impasse.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Unfortunately, the Obama administration will likely encounter another obstacle that is in many ways far more complex and difficult than the impasse over disarmament: many developing countries believe they have bigger fish to fry than preventing nuclear proliferation, which is often viewed as a rich country problem.

The Guardian - Opinion

The impasse will be difficult to break, said Mr. Kavoulakos, the university lecturer.

The New York Times

And that purely political choice turns a difficult situation into an intractable impasse – with 1,296 lives as its human consequence.

The Guardian

By Thursday afternoon, as members of both chambers raced for the airport to spend their last weekend home before a final stretch of year-end legislative maneuvering, it was difficult to see how the impasse would be resolved.

The New York Times

Police have abandoned Independence square, which had been been surrounded by makeshift barricades, and yet with the government unwilling to compromise, it is difficult to see how the impasse will be broken.

The Guardian

According to an account by the Observer's political columnist, Andrew Rawnsley, when May revealed the extent of this Whitehall impasse at a difficult Downing Street meeting two weeks ago, Cameron was horrified and said: "We are heading for a fucking car crash".

The Guardian

As this goal is usually unrealistic, the consultation can become long and difficult and result in an impasse.

BMC Pediatrics

8. Resolving the Valleys rail electrification "impasse" he inherited is proving difficult.

BBC

And since we cannot "cut and run" or stay forever, the president must ask for patience and support during the difficult process of finding the least painful resolution of this impasse.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "difficult impasse" to describe situations in politics, business, or personal relationships where progress is blocked.

Common error

While "difficult impasse" is a valid phrase, overuse can make writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using alternatives such as "challenging deadlock" or "intractable disagreement" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult impasse" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. It describes a specific situation characterized by a standstill or deadlock that is notably challenging to resolve. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is considered correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

16%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult impasse" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that describes a challenging situation where progress is blocked. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, although its relatively low frequency suggests it's not an everyday expression. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it conveys a sense of frustration and complexity surrounding an unresolvable standstill. When writing, be mindful of overuse and consider employing semantically similar alternatives like "challenging deadlock" or "intractable disagreement" to add variety and precision. When used, "difficult impasse" aptly captures the frustrating essence of an unresolvable predicament.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging deadlock

Replaces "impasse" with "deadlock", emphasizing the standstill nature of the situation and "difficult" with "challenging", a gentler alternative

tough stalemate

Substitutes "impasse" with "stalemate", highlighting the lack of progress, and "difficult" with "tough", suggesting resilience is needed.

intractable disagreement

Focuses on the disagreement aspect, portraying it as unresolvable by using "intractable".

complex gridlock

Replaces "impasse" with "gridlock", emphasizing the blockage, and "difficult" with "complex", suggesting intricacy.

unresolvable conflict

Highlights the conflict aspect, emphasizing its inability to be resolved by using "unresolvable".

thorny problem

Uses a metaphorical term to describe a difficult and complex situation, highlighting the problematic nature of the "impasse".

awkward standstill

Emphasizes the uncomfortable lack of movement or progress in a situation, replacing 'difficult' with 'awkward'.

problematic stalemate

Focuses on the stalemate nature while highlighting its problematic essence.

sticky situation

Uses a more informal expression to describe the challenging and potentially unpleasant nature of the "impasse".

delicate deadlock

Highlights the fragility and sensitivity of the situation, suggesting careful handling is required.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult impasse" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult impasse" to describe a situation where progress is blocked due to significant challenges, as in, "The negotiations reached a "difficult impasse" after weeks of disagreement".

What are some alternatives to saying "difficult impasse"?

Instead of "difficult impasse", consider using phrases like "challenging deadlock", "intractable disagreement", or "tough stalemate". Each alternative offers a slightly different nuance while conveying a similar meaning.

Is "difficult impasse" a formal or informal expression?

"Difficult impasse" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very casual settings, simpler terms like "sticky situation" might be more appropriate.

What makes an impasse "difficult"?

An impasse is considered "difficult" when the obstacles preventing resolution are substantial, complex, or deeply entrenched, making it particularly challenging to overcome. In such cases finding an amicable solution becomes a "difficult impasse".