How to Use checkmate in a Sentence

checkmate

1 of 2 verb
  • In fact, that's the only way to win a game of quantum chess, since there is no check or checkmate possible.
    Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 11 Dec. 2021
  • As the board is set up in the initial shots, Xavier has made many sacrifices but is poised to checkmate Magneto.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 7 June 2019
  • The object of the game is to checkmate your opponent's king by surrounding him with pieces that limit his movements.
    Faith Karimi, CNN, 6 Dec. 2020
  • But Icahn saw that plan as an opening to checkmate his opponent.
    Shawn Tully, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2022
  • There’s far too much yet to happen to know if there’s a chance Cleveland can checkmate the league, but at least the franchise seems to be playing the same game other smart front offices favored for years.
    cleveland, 29 Mar. 2020
  • The schedule includes no Texan with a solo speaking slot, and no signs of any focus on a state where a Democratic win would amount to checkmate in the Electoral College.
    Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 14 Aug. 2020
  • Pelosi quickly secured the votes to prevent Republicans from overturning the agreement, thus checkmating the deal’s foes.
    Jeet Heer, The New Republic, 23 Apr. 2018
  • Winning Florida would effectively checkmate Trump in his bid to win 270 Electoral College votes, the amount needed for another term.
    Joseph Simonson, Washington Examiner, 15 Sep. 2020
  • Jackson might be the first to checkmate NFL defenses primarily with his running ability.
    Childs Walker, baltimoresun.com, 25 Oct. 2019
  • But in a category packed with word-of-mouth sensations, the addictive Queen's Gambit should simultaneously checkmate all four opponents.
    David Canfield, EW.com, 22 Feb. 2021
  • In fact, that's the only way to win a game of quantum chess, since there is no check or checkmate possible.
    Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 11 Dec. 2021
  • As the board is set up in the initial shots, Xavier has made many sacrifices but is poised to checkmate Magneto.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 7 June 2019
  • The object of the game is to checkmate your opponent's king by surrounding him with pieces that limit his movements.
    Faith Karimi, CNN, 6 Dec. 2020
  • But Icahn saw that plan as an opening to checkmate his opponent.
    Shawn Tully, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2022
  • There’s far too much yet to happen to know if there’s a chance Cleveland can checkmate the league, but at least the franchise seems to be playing the same game other smart front offices favored for years.
    cleveland, 29 Mar. 2020
  • The schedule includes no Texan with a solo speaking slot, and no signs of any focus on a state where a Democratic win would amount to checkmate in the Electoral College.
    Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 14 Aug. 2020
  • Pelosi quickly secured the votes to prevent Republicans from overturning the agreement, thus checkmating the deal’s foes.
    Jeet Heer, The New Republic, 23 Apr. 2018
  • Winning Florida would effectively checkmate Trump in his bid to win 270 Electoral College votes, the amount needed for another term.
    Joseph Simonson, Washington Examiner, 15 Sep. 2020
  • Jackson might be the first to checkmate NFL defenses primarily with his running ability.
    Childs Walker, baltimoresun.com, 25 Oct. 2019
  • But in a category packed with word-of-mouth sensations, the addictive Queen's Gambit should simultaneously checkmate all four opponents.
    David Canfield, EW.com, 22 Feb. 2021
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checkmate

2 of 2 noun
  • The challenger can force a checkmate with his next move.
  • This is easily what put Joe Biden over the top here, the checkmate state.
    NBC News, 8 Nov. 2020
  • Here are three great options for time-stopping moves that may lead you to a checkmate.
    Popular Science, 23 Dec. 2019
  • Nobody pops out of the womb knowing how to pirouette or plot a sneaky checkmate.
    Popular Science, 27 June 2020
  • But the game of chess scoffs at programmers trying to push it into checkmate.
    Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2011
  • The quarterback returned it to Harbaugh on the sideline only to have the coach call checkmate.
    Teddy Greenstein, chicagotribune.com, 17 Nov. 2019
  • Even if things were less of a shambles, Lebanon does not have an extradition treaty with Japan: checkmate.
    Vivian Yee, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2019
  • Going small to exploit the clunky Timofey Mozgov in 2015 turned out to be checkmate.
    Ben Golliver, SI.com, 30 May 2018
  • Beth Harmon makes every checkmate feel as thrilling as a final touchdown at the Super Bowl.
    Vogue, 13 Nov. 2020
  • That felt like checkmate again, although Cleveland was forced to return the same personnel.
    Ben Golliver, SI.com, 30 May 2018
  • His checkmate came after months of offscreen intrigue surrounding the mid-century thriller, which reached a fever pitch over the week ahead of its debut in Venice.
    Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022
  • In the spirit of anything goes, in the name of barbershop banter from Tuscaloosa, Ala., to Cleveland, there is only one thing for Saban to do at this point, and that thing is barbershop checkmate.
    Joseph Goodman, AL.com, 3 Apr. 2018
  • Strength in numbers is the ultimate checkmate, giving us a distinct advantage.
    Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 19 Aug. 2020
  • Because what seems like a brutal display of unrequited love was the second-smartest decision Rose made in the whole movie, right after leaving that nude portrait in the safe as a checkmate to her dirtbag fiancé.
    Alexis Jones, Marie Claire, 22 Nov. 2018
  • Life is a game of chess for these calculating water signs, who are constantly plotting several steps ahead in order to orchestrate an eventual checkmate.
    Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, 2 Feb. 2018
  • What is missing is the recognition that Russia has been quietly engineering an energy checkmate that will culminate in the coming winter.
    Steve Cicala, Forbes, 26 May 2022
  • Eventually superior talent provided the checkmate for the Buckeyes.
    Austin Ward, ajc, 5 Sep. 2017
  • The challenger can force a checkmate with his next move.
  • This is easily what put Joe Biden over the top here, the checkmate state.
    NBC News, 8 Nov. 2020
  • Here are three great options for time-stopping moves that may lead you to a checkmate.
    Popular Science, 23 Dec. 2019
  • Nobody pops out of the womb knowing how to pirouette or plot a sneaky checkmate.
    Popular Science, 27 June 2020
  • But the game of chess scoffs at programmers trying to push it into checkmate.
    Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2011
  • The quarterback returned it to Harbaugh on the sideline only to have the coach call checkmate.
    Teddy Greenstein, chicagotribune.com, 17 Nov. 2019
  • Even if things were less of a shambles, Lebanon does not have an extradition treaty with Japan: checkmate.
    Vivian Yee, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2019
  • Going small to exploit the clunky Timofey Mozgov in 2015 turned out to be checkmate.
    Ben Golliver, SI.com, 30 May 2018
  • Beth Harmon makes every checkmate feel as thrilling as a final touchdown at the Super Bowl.
    Vogue, 13 Nov. 2020
  • That felt like checkmate again, although Cleveland was forced to return the same personnel.
    Ben Golliver, SI.com, 30 May 2018
  • His checkmate came after months of offscreen intrigue surrounding the mid-century thriller, which reached a fever pitch over the week ahead of its debut in Venice.
    Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022
  • In the spirit of anything goes, in the name of barbershop banter from Tuscaloosa, Ala., to Cleveland, there is only one thing for Saban to do at this point, and that thing is barbershop checkmate.
    Joseph Goodman, AL.com, 3 Apr. 2018
  • Strength in numbers is the ultimate checkmate, giving us a distinct advantage.
    Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 19 Aug. 2020

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'checkmate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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