1
as in halt
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in
a new negotiator finally got both sides past the stalemate
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in tie
a situation in which neither participant in a contest, competition, or struggle comes out ahead of the other
after playing chess for 16 hours, we ended the game in a stalemate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stalemate
In the weeks-long stalemate, the FBI used a variety of tactics to try to draw out the Branch Davidians from their compound, including blaring music in the middle of the night.
—
Emily Blackwood, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Real Madrid’s shock 2-1 loss to Valencia gave Barca a golden opportunity to extend its lead at the summit to six points, which obviously wasn’t taken as a consequence of the Betis stalemate.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Auston Matthews scored his first goal in the second round of the playoffs to break a tense stalemate and give the Leafs a grinding 2-0 win.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Bipartisan economic solutions, instead of partisan stalemates, are possible in this unique moment.
—Cleve Mesidor, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Emily Blackwood, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Real Madrid’s shock 2-1 loss to Valencia gave Barca a golden opportunity to extend its lead at the summit to six points, which obviously wasn’t taken as a consequence of the Betis stalemate.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Auston Matthews scored his first goal in the second round of the playoffs to break a tense stalemate and give the Leafs a grinding 2-0 win.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Bipartisan economic solutions, instead of partisan stalemates, are possible in this unique moment.
—Cleve Mesidor, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate
Noun
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That was after the pandemic lockdown brought concerts — and much of the world — shuddering to a halt in 2020 and much of 2021 (and before the COVID resurgence that followed).—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2025
-
Your money can become temporarily or permanently inaccessible, payment systems can seize up, and the real economy can be brought to a halt.—
Jon Helgi Egilsson,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Speaking to Variety from a film set in Wales, Minghella illuminated his thoughts on the complicated loyalties within Nick and what ties this particular radicalized young man does — and doesn’t — have to our present political moment.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
20 May 2025
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, straining to restore ties with Washington after a disastrous February White House visit, met Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome on Sunday on the sidelines of Pope Leo's inauguration.—
Pavel Polityuk,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
Noun
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That timeline is where the two rivals find themselves at an impasse.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
-
The California Department of Human Resources filed an unfair practice charge against the union, arguing that bargaining had not reached an impasse when those workers went on strike.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Other golf meccas like Myrtle Beach (S.C), Hilton Head (S.C.), Phoenix/Scottsdale, and Palm Springs (Calif.) are unquestionably national draws for traveling golfers with a wealth of golf courses across a range of facilities.—
Erik Matuszewski,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
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There have always been other use cases for VR, but gaming has always been the main draw.—
Luke Larsen,
Wired News,
25 May 2025
Noun
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Now, the city faces the challenge of operating up to six months with just six council members, increasing the risk of deadlocks on important decisions, after the council failed to appoint an interim council member on Tuesday.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2025
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a trilateral meeting between himself, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin to break the deadlock on ending Moscow's invasion.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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