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
The conflict is at a stalemate with one side now likely to escalate further, Mattis said.
—
Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
The effort to provide some relief comes as Congress struggles to find a compromise to end the stalemate.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
With pressure mounting this week to resolve the stalemate, the endgame appeared to emerge just before TSA workers were set to miss another paycheck.
—Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Her family is among the approximately 61,000 essential TSA employees who are anxious to see how quickly they can be paid after a six-week congressional stalemate over funding for the Department of Homeland Security has forced them to work without pay.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
The effort to provide some relief comes as Congress struggles to find a compromise to end the stalemate.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
With pressure mounting this week to resolve the stalemate, the endgame appeared to emerge just before TSA workers were set to miss another paycheck.
—Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Her family is among the approximately 61,000 essential TSA employees who are anxious to see how quickly they can be paid after a six-week congressional stalemate over funding for the Department of Homeland Security has forced them to work without pay.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate
Noun
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It has not been publicly released, and DHS did not respond to requests to explain if the halt was permanent.—
Molly A. Wallace,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
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The idea to launch a podcast began during the pandemic, when touring — and the world — came to a screeching halt.—
Kailyn Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Late last year, Descovich led a letter urging the federal government to cut ties with the SPLC.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
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While primarily based in Los Angeles, Alec has maintained more visible ties to Michigan real estate, including a sizable lakefront home along Lake Michigan built in 2013.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate find themselves at a familiar impasse, bitterly divided over which approach to take.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
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The collapse of the deal leaves Congress, now on a two-week spring break, with no easy way out of the impasse that has put the Homeland Security Department into a shutdown since mid-February.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The results are in for the Maine Lottery’s draw games on Saturday, March 28, 2026.—
USA Today staff,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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For many, the local bands are a main draw.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Senate Republicans say Democrats must compromise on immigration policy, while some conservatives suggest eliminating the filibuster to break the funding deadlock.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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The partial government shutdown begins due to a deadlock between Senate Democrats and Republicans over funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency that is part of the DHS.—
Graham Hurley,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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