dead-end
UK: ˌded ˈend | US: ˌdɛd ˈɛnd
n. 1. A passage or street with no exit; a cul-de-sac.
n. 2. A situation offering no progress or escape.
adj. Leading to no further development; futile.
The term "dead-end" combines "dead," from Old English dēad (lifeless, inactive), and "end," from Old English endian (to finish, terminate). The compound emerged in the early 19th century, originally describing streets with no exit. By the 20th century, it metaphorically extended to stagnant situations or careers. The logic is vivid: a "dead" (inactive) path literally "ends" without continuation.
The car turned into a dead-end street and had to reverse.
His research hit a dead-end due to lack of funding.
Avoid dead-end jobs that offer no growth opportunities.
The negotiations reached a dead-end after hours of debate.
The trail became a dead-end at the edge of the forest.