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
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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
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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Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia for an initial round of talks aimed at eventually ending the war and restoring U.S.-Russia ties.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
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Canada froze its ties with the bank in June 2023, pending a review of allegations by a Canadian staff member, who dramatically quit after accusing the bank of being dominated by members of China’s Communist Party.—
Tamar Gutner,
The Conversation,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For example, drugs can activate apoptosis or halt cell division in ways that mimic p53’s normal function.—
Prosper Obed Chukwuemeka,
The Conversation,
20 Feb. 2025
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Last week, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze foreign aid, saying the blanket halt was based on dubious logic.—
Mark Mazzetti,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The film seems to comment on the evolution of communication—from a love of language to a more detached, modern form of communication.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
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The wood fence enclosing the yard is new, and a detached garage has a workshop and holds one car.—
Angela Serratore,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In the world wars, transoceanic coalitions turned back Eurasian aggressors, forging patterns of cooperation that brought the United States into the Old World’s strategic affairs.—
HAL BRANDS,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
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So management may turn back to the trade market to address remaining areas of weakness — including down the middle of the second line.—
Shayna Goldman,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Our hosts Michelle Kaufman and Andre Fernandez break down this first hectic week and look back at the biggest takeaways from a preseason in which Inter Miami went unbeaten in five games, capped by a 2-2 draw with Orlando City.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2025
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Bellingham was sent off in the first half of Madrid’s 1-1 draw at El Sadar on Saturday for swearing at referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero.—
Ali Rampling,
The Athletic,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Hamas on Friday published the names of three more hostages to be released, signaling that an impasse over the immediate future of the cease-fire with Israel had been overcome after days of recriminations between the two sides.—
Aaron Boxerman,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2025
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As some states have refused to comply with President Donald Trump's recent executive order that bans trans athletes in girls' and women's sports, New York is at an impasse over the issue.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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No problem Remember when adventure seemed like a distant memory?—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
25 Feb. 2025
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Resembling a distant cousin to the truffula tree in Seussical botany, this shaft of sturdy stem with intermittent globes of golden treats is a pollinator’s dream.—
New York Times Games,
New York Times,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Judge holds off:No decision on whether to drop NYC Mayor Eric Adams case What charges does Adams face?—
John Bacon,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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Just consider holding off on sending those trail selfies to your friends on the East Coast until the snow and ice melt.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoff. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
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