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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stalemate
During the 2018-2019 shutdown, air traffic controllers were largely credited with helping bring the stalemate to an end as flight delays and cancellations increased on the 35th day.
—
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
There's been little movement on Capitol Hill over the past five weeks as Republicans and Democrats blame one another for the stalemate.
—ABC News, 4 Nov. 2025
With the blame game continuing, the Republicans and Democrats remain locked in a bitter stalemate over spending matters and health care items.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
The record for the longest shutdown in US history is likely to be broken in less than 48 hours as Democrats and Republicans show no signs of reaching an end to the stalemate.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
There's been little movement on Capitol Hill over the past five weeks as Republicans and Democrats blame one another for the stalemate.
—ABC News, 4 Nov. 2025
With the blame game continuing, the Republicans and Democrats remain locked in a bitter stalemate over spending matters and health care items.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
The record for the longest shutdown in US history is likely to be broken in less than 48 hours as Democrats and Republicans show no signs of reaching an end to the stalemate.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate
Noun
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Elsewhere, the e-cargo is built around aluminum front and rear frame components, rolls on 20-inch wheels wearing Scwhalbe rubber, and comes to a halt courtesy of Tektro quad-piston hydraulic brakes rocking 180-mm discs.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
31 Oct. 2025
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And in a situation where millions of Americans risked going hungry with the potential halt of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the group is using that power for good.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The flag, a symbol of the tribe’s long and hard-fought sovereignty, the ways its people have given to the Elk Grove community, and ties to land that date back, in Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen’s remarks, to time immemorial, launches the city’s commemoration of Native American Heritage Month.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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Abe, who was assassinated in 2022, had signaled a willingness to meet Kim Jong Un without conditions to improve ties between their countries; several years later, then-leader Fumio Kishida also conveyed his intention to meet the North Korean leader.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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As health care has become a sticking point in the shutdown impasse, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers on Monday released a tentative framework for a potential deal that would extend expiring the health insurance subsidies that have been at the center of the shutdown debate.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
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The nation's food assistance programs have become a casualty of the impasse between Democrats and Republicans over how to fund the government.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Last season, injuries and suspensions contributed to Arsenal going four league games without a win (two losses and two draws), with another end-of-season slump coinciding with a greater push in the Champions League — winning only one of six games between matchday 31 and 36, racking up four draws.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That’s because a congressional deadlock tied to the extension of enhanced subsidies for insurance premiums has continued with no end in sight.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
31 Oct. 2025
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The suspension of food aid and flight delays from furloughed workers are among the reasons lawmakers say bipartisan talks are picking up steam to resolve the spending deadlock.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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