Thesaurus results for STALEMATE

stalemate

noun

ˈstāl-ˌmāt

Definition of stalemate

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

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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 The base-case scenario for many analysts is that the stalemate continues over the next several months. — Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2026 Shayna Goldman took a spin on the NHL offseason concern-o-meter, which leads with the Dylan Larkin stalemate in Detroit. — Chris Branch, New York Times, 14 July 2026 In Korea’s case, the war ended in a stalemate, leaving the peninsula formally at war. — Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 Los Cafeteros topped Group K ahead of Portugal as their 0-0 stalemate against the Seleção was preceded by successive wins against DR Congo and Uzbekistan. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stalemate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate

Noun

Last week, De Beers — which is owned by Anglo American — announced a two-year production halt at its flagship Venetia mine in South Africa.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 20 July 2026
The escalation over the strait has seen shipping traffic ground to a halt through the waterway, through which a fifth of the world’s oil flowed before the war.

— Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 17 July 2026

Definition of halt

Noun

If nothing else, garnering a point from a tie was a far better outcome for the Current than last week’s 3-0 loss at Orlando.

— The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
The ensemble drama traces the unpredictable shape of grief and family dynamics, aiming for an emotionally candid portrait of loss and the ties that hold communities together.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 July 2026

Definition of tie

Noun

If the impasse does not end before then, the union will keep the current contract until 2027 — but employees would no longer receive wage increases other than those earned for additional years of service.

— Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 July 2026
Only a small number of projects require involvement from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Bronin, the former ACHP chair, said, and fewer still end in an impasse.

— Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026

Definition of impasse

Noun

There’s a collective draw toward the general aesthetic vision on offer here — cold, computerized, humanity-drained — and the frictionless insularity of the characters’ lives.

— Nick H. Penniman, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026
The referee crew’s three World Cup matches thus far include a 2-2 group-stage draw between the Netherlands and Japan; Spain’s 1-0 win over Uruguay; and Norway’s 2-1 victory over Brazil in the Round of 16.

— PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026

Definition of draw

Noun

With the Thursday deadlock, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman sent jurors home.

— Darrell Smith July 16, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
She was confirmed by the Senate in 2023 when former Vice President Kamala Harris cast a deciding vote to break a Senate deadlock.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of deadlock

Browse Nearby Words

stale

stalemate

stalemates

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“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of stalemate

noun

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