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
The return of President Donald Trump triggered the ending to the David and Goliath-style standoff between Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) and the Biden administration that led to a tense yearlong stalemate between Texas soldiers and border patrol agents at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass.
—
Anna Giaritelli, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
Mascherano’s men improved after halftime, and ended the stalemate through Allende in the 61st minute.
—Franco Panizo, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
This emotional deadlock is key to the overall form the movie takes — in part, because there’s only so far Kramer can scrutinize this stalemate without directly impacting the ongoing narrative.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 24 Feb. 2025
The Franklin-McKinley School District in San Jose will briefly delay its plan to close or consolidate school campuses to shrink the district’s $22.9 million budget deficit after a contentious three-hour school board meeting on Tuesday ended in a stalemate.
—Molly Gibbs, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Anna Giaritelli, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
Mascherano’s men improved after halftime, and ended the stalemate through Allende in the 61st minute.
—Franco Panizo, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
This emotional deadlock is key to the overall form the movie takes — in part, because there’s only so far Kramer can scrutinize this stalemate without directly impacting the ongoing narrative.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 24 Feb. 2025
The Franklin-McKinley School District in San Jose will briefly delay its plan to close or consolidate school campuses to shrink the district’s $22.9 million budget deficit after a contentious three-hour school board meeting on Tuesday ended in a stalemate.
—Molly Gibbs, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate
Noun
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But his career came to a screeching halt later that year.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA TODAY,
18 Mar. 2025
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His term began with large-scale immigration raids, a halt to asylum processing for undocumented migrants, and executive orders aimed at expanding the authority of ICE to arrest and detain those in the country illegally.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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More than the family ties that bind him to Charlotte, Curry has embraced his sage master role on a developing young group.—
Mat Issa,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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San Fernando 11, Kennedy 4: The Tigers broke a 4-4 tie with seven runs in the ninth inning for the Valley Mission League win.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Now the Comcast impasse threatens to keep the White Sox off the air on the largest pay-TV provider in the Chicago market, a potentially devastating blow to the fans, the team and the new regional sports network.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2025
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Germany’s political and economic impasse need not result in a future defined by the far right.—
Liana Fix,
Foreign Affairs,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The ideal mountaintop for a Machiavellian hand-puppet, the legendary wrist of Academy Award winner John Lithgow was a major draw for Jenny’s designer too.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
14 Mar. 2025
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The Canadians are also unbeaten in their last three meetings with Mexico, including a home win and an away draw during 2022 World Cup Qualifying.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Yesterday’s pangrams were cloaked, deadlock and deadlocked.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
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Crean Lutheran went on an 11-0 run after a 57-57 deadlock in the fourth quarter to defeat host Brentwood 62-52 in Division 1.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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