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

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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stalemate Since then, the Dolphins and Ramsey have been at a stalemate of sorts. C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025 This division, as well as personal and political motivations amongst the cardinals, led to a stalemate, and the conclave ultimately lasted 1,006 days. Callum Sutherland, Time, 8 May 2025 The more important goal here is to achieve deterrence, similar to the stalemate in the Cold War with the Soviet Union that was based on nuclear weapons. Iain Boyd, The Conversation, 22 May 2025 When Narváez broke the scoreless stalemate with his blast, Rob Refsnyder held the cover aloft in the dugout. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate
Noun
  • Taylor Walls belted a homer and drove in three runs, Danny Jansen added a two-run shot and Brandon Lowe had a solo homer for the Rays, who saw their four-game winning streak come to a halt.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025
  • Zero visibility strategy: In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, initiate your hazard lights and locate a secure spot, such as a nearby business parking area, to pull over and come to a halt.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • The newly available material is composed of 54 documents, including memos about the agency's work to investigate whether RFK's killer had any foreign ties, as well as the response to his killing by foreign powers.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 June 2025
  • Culhane did the same with five kills in a 6-1 run to separate from a 6-6 tie to start the fourth.
    Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • In response to an impasse over the issue at a club meeting, the footballers walked out, went down the street to a nearby restaurant, and founded Football-Club Bayern Munchen.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 June 2025
  • Even so, Exodus was at an impasse when Hammett got an unexpected call from Metallica.
    Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • One of the hotel’s biggest draw cards is Catseye Pool Club, the on-site restaurant helmed by culinary power duo Josh and Julie Niland (of Saint Peter and Fish Butchery fame).
    Alli Forde, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2025
  • The following evenings will see fleet-footed Mercury draw level with Jupiter, before rising above and away from the gas giant in the night sky as a result of the smaller world's tight orbit around the sun.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • His Administration maintains that only top-level talks can break the current deadlock.
    Nik Popli, Time, 5 June 2025
  • This followed a previous meeting in which votes on the initial seven applicants also resulted in 3–3 deadlocks.
    Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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