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 meantime, a stalemate between the developers and the union at City Hall has the potential to hold up the project.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Both Russia and Ukraine have expanded their long-range attacks exponentially over the past year, with the ongoing frontline combat grinding into a near-stalemate with little apparent hope for either side to achieve significant breakthroughs.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 14 May 2026
DeChambeau is a proud YouTuber and has even threatened to take his ball and go play all by himself on the platform if a stalemate persists.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
The discussions quickly veered into the handling of a war that appears locked in a stalemate as higher fuel prices pose political problems for Republicans in the midterm congressional elections.
—Ben Finley, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Both Russia and Ukraine have expanded their long-range attacks exponentially over the past year, with the ongoing frontline combat grinding into a near-stalemate with little apparent hope for either side to achieve significant breakthroughs.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 14 May 2026
DeChambeau is a proud YouTuber and has even threatened to take his ball and go play all by himself on the platform if a stalemate persists.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
The discussions quickly veered into the handling of a war that appears locked in a stalemate as higher fuel prices pose political problems for Republicans in the midterm congressional elections.
—Ben Finley, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate
Noun
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The closing scene, from Cleveland’s perspective, was pain, the sting of a blown 3-1 series lead and the screeching halt of an improbable, magical journey.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Eventually, the whole charge pump will grind to a halt, leaving no current flow.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Meta’s top-tier Ray-Ban Display augmented reality smart glasses offer impressive hardware, but PCMag’s review found the software limited, with too many ties to Meta’s own apps.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
15 May 2026
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But the Wolverines also beat Wisconsin and Illinois teams that were ranked at kickoff, shut out Michigan State, blasted Penn State 33-11 and upset Ohio State 38-26 in Columbus to put themselves in a three-way tie for the Big Ten title with Northwestern and Purdue.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
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The latest impasse leaves the ceasefire between the two sides in an increasingly uncertain place as the global economy gets hit by the war’s impact on trade.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
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The Senate unanimously approved a resolution to withhold lawmakers’ pay during government shutdowns, aiming to encourage faster resolution of federal budget impasses after record-breaking closures.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Due to a knee injury, Matt Doherty, who was in the Wolves team for that 2-2 draw with Everton in August 2018, did not even get in the squad on Sunday on what might have been his final day at Molineux as a Wolves player.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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And while talent, crews and infrastructure remain a draw, tax credits, currency savings and government rebates are the real superpower.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
The jury had indicated a deadlock Friday morning, but the judge directed them to continue deliberating.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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Kennedy's resolution comes after federal workers faced a historic 43-day government shutdown late last year caused by a deadlock between parties over Affordable Care Act subsidies.—
Lalee Ibssa,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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