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

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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

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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 But its story is broadly informed by the systemic conditions that have led to the stalemate between the medical community and the government. Kayti Burt, Time, 16 Apr. 2025 The group ran through a number of ideas, according to a source, none of which would be a silver bullet to breaking the stalemate. Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 10 Apr. 2025 The visit from Dmitriev is a chance to break the stalemate in negotiations. Barak Ravid, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025 The Russia-Ukraine war has not yet reached a 'hurting stalemate,' where both sides feel compelled to negotiate a lasting resolution. William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate
Noun
  • But America's oldest-running distillery ground to a halt last month amid historic and deadly flooding, when Buffalo Trace master distiller Harlen Wheatley says the nearby Kentucky River rose to over 48 feet.
    Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 3 May 2025
  • Operations to release public records requests largely ground to a halt, according to half a dozen current or former employees.
    Rachana Pradhan, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • Certainly, Pakistan has in the past had ties to some of the many militant groups in Kashmir.
    Ayesha Jalal, The Conversation, 8 May 2025
  • The immigration raids have raised concerns over due process, racial profiling, and the detention of individuals with longstanding ties to their communities.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • As the impasse dragged on, frustrated townspeople took matters into their own hands, literally locking the indecisive cardinals inside the meeting hall and even removing the roof to speed the process.
    Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
  • After more than a year of bargaining, the union representing roughly 800 City of Portland workers declared an impasse in contract negotiations and could strike as soon as next month.
    Axios Portland, Axios, 7 May 2025
Noun
  • For all their existing domestic strife (or perhaps even because of it), United remain a huge draw the world over.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 May 2025
  • Soon, Yellowstone spinoffs such as 1883 and 1923 sprouted on Paramount+, becoming a major draw for the service.
    Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • The pair combined impeccably to break the deadlock last week, and the latter could make history by becoming the first Inter player to strike in five consecutive Champions League appearances.
    David Ferrini, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • The first of Rice’s heroic efforts came in the 58th minute, with the 26-year-old breaking the deadlock with a shot that whipped around the Real Madrid wall into the corner of the net.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

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