stale·mate
ˈstāl-ˌmāt 
1
: a drawing position in chess in which a player is not in checkmate but has no legal move to play
2
: a drawn contest : deadlock
also
: the state of being stalemated
stalemated; stalemating; stalemates
: to bring into a stalemate
Examples of stalemate in a Sentence
Noun
The budget debate ended in a stalemate.
The new agreement could break the stalemate.
The budget debate ended in stalemate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Then the game froze up, with the teams playing at a stalemate going into the third period.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
Jon MacHota, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
On points alone, this is the best duo, but Bunting’s production had a passenger quality and Kerfoot couldn’t do more alongside Tavares and Nylander than stalemate opponents.
2022-23: Michael Bunting and Calle Järnkrok
Core Four boosters or bottom-six producers?
—Nick Ashbourne, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
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Noun
The tiny Finnish Army—utilizing soldiers on skis and bikes—held the Russians to a three-month stalemate.
—Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Then the game froze up, with the teams playing at a stalemate going into the third period.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
Verb
He can be overwhelmed at times against the run but flashes the length to get into an opponent’s pads, lock out and stalemate at the point of attack, especially on the move.
—Jon MacHota, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
On points alone, this is the best duo, but Bunting’s production had a passenger quality and Kerfoot couldn’t do more alongside Tavares and Nylander than stalemate opponents.
2022-23: Michael Bunting and Calle Järnkrok
Core Four boosters or bottom-six producers?
—Nick Ashbourne, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Cite this Entry
“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stalemate. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stalemate
1 of 2 noun
stale·mate
ˈstā(ə)l-ˌmāt
1
: a position in chess that results in a draw when the only piece to be moved is the king which cannot be moved without being exposed to attack by the other player's piece
2
: a drawn or undecided contest : deadlock
the two sides reached a stalemate in their negotiations
stalemate
2 of 2 verb
stalemated; stalemating
: to bring into a stalemate
the talks were stalemated over the issue of payment
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