1
as in tie
a situation in which neither participant in a contest, competition, or struggle comes out ahead of the other
after two hours they had played to a 5-5 standoff
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in halt
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in
the standoff continued for three days before the fugitive gave himself up to the authorities
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in detached
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
the client's standoff attitude suggested that this was going to be a strictly business relationship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of standoff
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
2 July 2026
Zapata was arrested the next week following a two-hour standoff with police.
—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Usa Today,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Seager made it 6-0 in the fourth with his three-run homer, his sixth of the year being a 382-foot drive pulled into the right-field stands off Pirates rookie Bubba Chandler (1-2).
—
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for standoff
Noun
The standoff triggered one of the largest oil shocks ever recorded.
—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
2 July 2026
Zapata was arrested the next week following a two-hour standoff with police.
—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Verb
Comparison can be a slippery slope as the moon stands off with Chiron.
—
Usa Today,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Seager made it 6-0 in the fourth with his three-run homer, his sixth of the year being a 382-foot drive pulled into the right-field stands off Pirates rookie Bubba Chandler (1-2).
—
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for standoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoff
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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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.
Adjective
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They got approved for a mortgage on a £150,000 (about $198,441) two-bedroom, semi-detached house in Seaham, England.
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Olise has purposefully cultivated a kind of detached non-persona.
Verb
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Lionel Messi is turning back the clock and adding to the record books again.
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Climbing parties on the Normal Route had turned back earlier in the day.
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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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.
Adjective
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As the Coast Starlight approaches the Bay Area, the train glides past marshlands, open water, and distant city skylines before continuing toward California’s Central Coast.
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They were received by distant unknown relatives and made their way to Kensington, Illinois, a railroad community on Chicago’s South Side, historically tied to Calumet Junction and the industrial economy that helped shape the region.
Verb
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As the second half began, Cape Verde continued to hold off the Argentinians and managed a couple of opportunities on the opposition’s goal, though nothing that overly troubled Emiliano Martínez.
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His play has been more than enough to hold off two accomplished challengers as Spain moves forward to the round of 16.
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoff. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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