Stalemate, impasse (8)
I believe the answer is:
deadlock
This clue is a double definition.
'stalemate' is the first definition.
(synonyms)
'impasse' is the second definition.
(synonyms)
(Other definitions for deadlock that I've seen before include "Stalemate - impasse" , "Standstill" , "tie" , "Situation from which no progress can be made" , "Stalemate - it requires a key to open" .)