as in halt
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in
in the battle over bedtime the parents and their son are at a Mexican standoff
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Recent Examples of Mexican standoff
The top echelon of Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon has dissolved into a circle of mutual recrimination and enmity worthy of a Mexican standoff from a Quentin Tarantino film.
—
The Editors, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025
This week, Todd S. Purdum, a longtime political reporter for The New York Times, explains why Democrats have only themselves to blame for the Mexican standoff they’re now locked in with a very stubborn octogenarian.
—airmail.news, 13 July 2024
This is going to be a Mexican standoff relationship.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 20 Oct. 2022
Ahmet Şık, a former journalist and an opposition MP, likened the situation to a Mexican standoff, a confrontation in which no strategy exists that allows any party to achieve victory.
—Guney Yildiz, Forbes, 24 May 2021
The Editors, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025
This week, Todd S. Purdum, a longtime political reporter for The New York Times, explains why Democrats have only themselves to blame for the Mexican standoff they’re now locked in with a very stubborn octogenarian.
—airmail.news, 13 July 2024
This is going to be a Mexican standoff relationship.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 20 Oct. 2022
Ahmet Şık, a former journalist and an opposition MP, likened the situation to a Mexican standoff, a confrontation in which no strategy exists that allows any party to achieve victory.
—Guney Yildiz, Forbes, 24 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Mexican standoff
halt
Noun
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Advocates are also calling on Congress to intervene to put a halt to ICE arrests.—
Jason Rantala,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
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The ceasefire began with a halt in fighting and the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for thousands of Palestinians held by Israel.—
Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mexican standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Mexican%20standoff. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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