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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of standoff
Robert Daniels, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024
Such standoffs have brought the U.S. within days of defaulting and damaged the country’s credit rating, but have not made a major impact on the size or trajectory of the federal debt.
—Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 19 Dec. 2024
USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
Tidy up loose finances while Mercury stands off with Neptune.
—USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for standoff 
Noun
The writer-director Zulkarnain Azhar’s film was inspired by the real-life Lahad Datu standoff in 2013, when a Filipino group tried to claim the contested area.
—Robert Daniels, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024
Such standoffs have brought the U.S. within days of defaulting and damaged the country’s credit rating, but have not made a major impact on the size or trajectory of the federal debt.
—Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
Process your fears as Mercury stands off with Uranus.
—USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
Tidy up loose finances while Mercury stands off with Neptune.
—USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for standoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoff
Noun
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In a similar fashion, Sane may also walk for nothing on the same date that Davies and Kimmich can cut ties with the Bavarians.Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
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Assad's military backers, Tehran and Moscow, are also leaving the door open for potential ties with Syria's new leadership despite palpable concern over how the upheaval could affect their regional influence.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In both games, the Rockets defended well, but in both contests, their offense came to a screeching halt.Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
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In the political arena, the juggernaut of old-age policy came to a halt, and there has been no major expansion since the Nixon Administration, and no major reform of any sort since Reagan.James Chappel / Made by History, TIME, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The main house measures in at about 8,000 square feet and has five bedrooms, while the detached guest house has another two bedrooms in just over 1,000 square feet of space.Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2025
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Most of the devices were found in a detached garage, where the FBI also found tools and manufacturing materials, including homemade fuses and pieces of PVC pipe.Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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It's been exciting to watch IU's Cinderella season, but even Cinderella's coach turned back into a pumpkin.Justin L. Mack, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
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On Wednesday, as police announced that the school had been turned back over to Abundant Life, the victims in the shooting were identified by authorities as well.John Diedrich, Journal Sentinel, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 1 Jan. 2025
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The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.Jordan Kellogg, The Enquirer, 1 Jan. 2025
Noun
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When the three leaders gathered at Camp David in September 1978, the Egyptian and Israeli contingents were quickly at an impasse.Vivek Shankar, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
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As the talks remain at an impasse and the current contract extension counts down, the union continues to apply public pressure to the ocean carriers and terminals.Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The new theory posits that the monument’s stones, sourced from distant regions, served as symbols of political alliances, possibly after unrest.Jamie Carter, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
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Doka is part of a young generation of Fort McDowell Yavapai whose lives feel distant from when Orme Dam threatened their reservation.Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Ducks held off the Buckeyes 32-31 in one of the regular season’s best games on Oct. 12.Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
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While many are eager to kick off their New Year's resolutions, millions of Californians have been urged to hold off after a warning to limit exercise on New Year's Day.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near standoff
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoff. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.
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