stale·mate
ˈstāl-ˌmāt 
1
: a drawing position in chess in which a player is not in checkmate but has no legal move to play
2
: a drawn contest : deadlock
also
: the state of being stalemated
stalemated; stalemating; stalemates
: to bring into a stalemate
Synonyms
Examples of stalemate in a Sentence
Noun
The budget debate ended in a stalemate.
The new agreement could break the stalemate.
The budget debate ended in stalemate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
The top option on the board seems to be Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger, but the Yankees have reportedly run into a stalemate in those negotiations.
—Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Rania Abouzeid, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024
Syria’s civil war, which erupted in 2011, had largely stalemated by 2020.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stalemate 
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Noun
The stalemate comes as some California jurisdictions are bracing for Trump’s promise on deportations and adopting policies designed to protect immigrant communities.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
The top option on the board seems to be Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger, but the Yankees have reportedly run into a stalemate in those negotiations.
—Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
Since about 2018, the conflict had been largely stalemated, and Syria has been a unified state in name only.
—Rania Abouzeid, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024
Syria’s civil war, which erupted in 2011, had largely stalemated by 2020.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stalemate
Dictionary Entries Near stalemate
Cite this Entry
“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stalemate. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stalemate
1 of 2 noun
stale·mate
ˈstā(ə)l-ˌmāt
1
: a position in chess that results in a draw when the only piece to be moved is the king which cannot be moved without being exposed to attack by the other player's piece
2
: a drawn or undecided contest : deadlock
the two sides reached a stalemate in their negotiations
stalemate
2 of 2 verb
stalemated; stalemating
: to bring into a stalemate
the talks were stalemated over the issue of payment
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