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

Relevance
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stalemate The vote marks the latest sign of stalemate between the two sides. Al Weaver, The Hill, 6 Oct. 2025 After years of talks for a global treaty on plastic waste, the negotiations have bogged down with sessions this summer and late last year both ending in stalemate and frustration. Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025 Government shutdown enters 3rd day amid Senate stalemate 2. FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025 But after that, troops would be at the mercy of negotiations on Capitol Hill, which remain at a stalemate. Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate
Noun
  • An Israeli government spokesperson said on Sunday that there was no ceasefire in place in Gaza, only a temporary halt in certain bombings, according to Reuters.
    Richard Hall, Time, 5 Oct. 2025
  • But watch for combat to come to a halt until these hostages are released.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • She was dressed in a heather-gray blouse with pleated draping and a black mock bow-tie.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Devin Lloyd easily stepped in front of a Mahomes pass and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown in what was a tie game.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Typically such a deal would mean an equal group of Democrats and Republicans agreeing to break an impasse.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • An ally turns In his address Monday morning to explain his decision to resign, Lecornu blamed political parties' intransigence for the impasse France finds itself in.
    Charlotte Reed, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Kempes, for example, played particularly deep in a goalless draw with Brazil in the second group phase, perhaps having remembered the criticism from Di Stefano.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
    Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The deadlock in Congress stems from conflicting spending plans, with Republicans pushing for a clean bill, while Democrats have conditioned their support on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.
    Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The deadlock leaves the government barreling toward its first shutdown in nearly seven years.
    Nik Popli, Time, 29 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on stalemate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!