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 contest, competition, dispute, etc., in which neither side can gain an advantage or win : deadlock
The new agreement might break the stalemate.
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
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Feb. 2026
Democrats pushed for changes to immigration enforcement and DHS funding, while Republicans opposed removing that funding, leading to a stalemate.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026
Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
With the high representative largely passive, Bosnia was stalemated between incompatible horizons, each side strong enough to block but too weak to prevail.
—Adis Maksić, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
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Noun
Prior to today’s disruption, the stalemate over the prior three days had remained limited to operational activities at the port’s main jetties.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Feb. 2026
Democrats pushed for changes to immigration enforcement and DHS funding, while Republicans opposed removing that funding, leading to a stalemate.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
But the frontlines were stalemated until the STC’s recent advance
Saudi Arabia, which borders one of the regions seized by the STC separatists, appeared at first to accept the STC’s gambit to control more territory.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
With the high representative largely passive, Bosnia was stalemated between incompatible horizons, each side strong enough to block but too weak to prevail.
—Adis Maksić, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 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 5 Feb. 2026.
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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