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
Uruguay tied again, this time a 2-2 stalemate against another adversary that less than two weeks ago, pretty much every soccer pundit would have deemed inferior.
—
Andre Fernandez,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
The match remained a tense goalless stalemate for 90 minutes as the Germans desperately pressed to win to secure qualification to the knockout stage.
—
Tushaar Kuthiala,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 June 2026
Hope appears to spring eternal that Putin might seek some sort of off-ramp, given his dire stalemate on the battlefield and struggle defending Russian airspace.
—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Prior to Manzambi’s opening goal, the game unfolded like a grinding stalemate.
—
Josh Gross,
Oc Register,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Andre Fernandez,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
The match remained a tense goalless stalemate for 90 minutes as the Germans desperately pressed to win to secure qualification to the knockout stage.
—
Tushaar Kuthiala,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 June 2026
Hope appears to spring eternal that Putin might seek some sort of off-ramp, given his dire stalemate on the battlefield and struggle defending Russian airspace.
—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Prior to Manzambi’s opening goal, the game unfolded like a grinding stalemate.
—
Josh Gross,
Oc Register,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate
Noun
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Gulf primary bond issuance came to an abrupt halt in the wake of the conflict, with corporate and sovereign bond yields jumping as geopolitical tensions escalated.
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Wrangling my emotions became the difference between sputtering to a halt and moving forward.
Noun
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Egypt defeated Australia 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout Friday after the teams played to a 1-1 tie after 120 minutes in Arlington, Texas.
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The former donned a long black coat over a matching shirt and tie, dark wash jeans and dress shoes, while the latter rocked a white tank top with light wash jeans and olive green boots.
Noun
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The conflicts, including a marathon 15-day impasse with Disney, stemmed from YouTube TV‘s steady growth into a dominant pay-TV operator just nine years after its debut.
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Speaker Mike Johnson is meeting with the president today amid the legislative impasse.
Noun
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After defeating Panama 1-0 in their first World Cup group-stage game, Ghana played to a scoreless draw with England before losing 2-1 to Croatia.
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Cape Verde made history on Friday, June 26, after playing Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw at Houston Stadium.
Noun
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Balogun’s fancy footwork broke a scoreless deadlock 45 minutes into the action, booting a left-footed shot through the goalie’s outstretched legs.
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And finally, in the 71st minute, the Netherlands has broken the scoreless deadlock after a wild run that ended with Cody Gakpo's score.
Cite this Entry
“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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