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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of standoff
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2025
Jonathan Russell, were deployed to a domestic dispute that led to an armed standoff involving 29-year-old Steven Righini, who shot an Aroostook deputy, according to a statement from MSP.
—Alexandra Koch, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2025
Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 27 July 2024
In the photo, the patriarch himself actually stands off from the center, next to his son, Barron Trump, 17-year-old Kai and four of his other grandchildren.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for standoff 
Noun
The streamer in the past has been criticized for not providing adequate royalties to artists, including a high profile standoff with Taylor Swift in 2014.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2025
Jonathan Russell, were deployed to a domestic dispute that led to an armed standoff involving 29-year-old Steven Righini, who shot an Aroostook deputy, according to a statement from MSP.
—Alexandra Koch, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2025
Verb
Slater came out of the facility and stood off to the side of the practice fields.
—Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 27 July 2024
In the photo, the patriarch himself actually stands off from the center, next to his son, Barron Trump, 17-year-old Kai and four of his other grandchildren.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for standoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoff
Noun
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To recap his 100 weeks at the summit, here’s a review of Brown’s 11 No. 1s on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay: With an 11th No. 1, Brown breaks a tie with Beyoncé for sole possession of the fourth-most leaders on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.—
Trevor Anderson,
Billboard,
11 Feb. 2025
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The game was on when Missouri held Texas A&M scoreless for more than five minutes to forge a 49-49 tie.—
Tom Murphy,
arkansasonline.com,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Here are some of the most notable categories: Foreign policy Trump's foreign policy approach in his early days in office centered around tariff threats, shirking international agreements and bringing much foreign aid to a halt.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
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On Thursday, the Trump administration also ordered an immediate halt of the $5 billion program aimed at building more EV charging stations on highways.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The fire was reported about 12:30 p.m. Sunday in the 1800 block of Sims Avenue in St. Paul in a detached garage, said Jeremiah Melquist, assistant fire chief for the St. Paul Fire Department, who gave the following information about the fire.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
9 Feb. 2025
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Of course, there’s also the aforementioned detached garage for the avid car enthusiast.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Days later, on February 5, another group of 23 migrants was encountered re-entering Honduras from Guatemala after deciding to turn back from Mexico.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
10 Feb. 2025
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Celebrities like Hailey Bieber and wellness enthusiasts are getting routine NAD+ infusion therapy in an attempt to turn back the clock on aging.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The Director of the Palm Beach County Tourism Bureau did not hesitate a second to assure our Commission that our historic downtown was a key component of our tourism draw.—
Christopher McVoy,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2025
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While Burnley were posting their 10th 0-0 draw of the season in Portsmouth, Leeds were putting Cardiff, unbeaten in seven, to the sword.—
Beren Cross,
The Athletic,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The tentative agreement marks a significant step forward in resolving the impasse that had threatened to disrupt essential public services provided by the Public Works Department.—
Julia Fomby,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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In some cases, a lack of meaningful reconciliation can cause relationships to wither, leaving both parties at an impasse.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The phenomenon allows scientists to sometimes see the light from distant galaxies that would otherwise be hidden.—
Greg Wehner,
Fox News,
11 Feb. 2025
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Einstein rings are examples of strong gravitational lensing, O’Riordan said, a phenomenon that acts like a magnifying glass in the universe, revealing celestial objects and light from distant galaxies that would otherwise remain unseen.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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On the other side, Gardner-Johnson will try to hold off Taylor and the Chiefs’ offense, helping lead the defensive effort as a safety.—
Amanda Pirkowski,
Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2025
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Washington — Senate Republicans are moving forward with their own budget plan to fund President Trump's agenda despite a request from House Speaker Mike Johnson to hold off and let the lower chamber take the lead.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near standoff
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoff. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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