stale·mate
ˈstāl-ˌmāt 
1
: a drawing position in chess in which a player is not in checkmate but has no legal move to play
2
: a drawn contest : deadlock
also
: the state of being stalemated
stalemated; stalemating; stalemates
: to bring into a stalemate
Examples of stalemate in a Sentence
Noun
The budget debate ended in a stalemate.
The new agreement could break the stalemate.
The budget debate ended in stalemate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Talks between Kimmel and Disney/ABC hit enough of a stalemate that executives there decided Wednesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Dan Walters, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2025
Sudan has an active war, while Yemen’s war is largely stalemated and Libyan forces remain armed.
—Chris Megerian, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
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Noun
Keith Andrews' side have drawn their last two games but had more reason to celebrate on Monday as their stalemate with Aston Villa preceded a penalty shootout win in the EFL Cup.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Talks between Kimmel and Disney/ABC hit enough of a stalemate that executives there decided Wednesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
After 1990 census, Republican Gov. Pete Wilson and Democratic legislators once again stalemated and once again the Supreme Court stepped in.
—Dan Walters, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2025
Sudan has an active war, while Yemen’s war is largely stalemated and Libyan forces remain armed.
—Chris Megerian, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Cite this Entry
“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stalemate. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stalemate
1 of 2 noun
stale·mate
ˈstā(ə)l-ˌmāt
1
: a position in chess that results in a draw when the only piece to be moved is the king which cannot be moved without being exposed to attack by the other player's piece
2
: a drawn or undecided contest : deadlock
the two sides reached a stalemate in their negotiations
stalemate
2 of 2 verb
stalemated; stalemating
: to bring into a stalemate
the talks were stalemated over the issue of payment
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