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
Recent extensions for homegrown stars haven’t been done before offseason workouts and instead contract stalemates dragged into at least last July for George Kittle (2021), Fred Warner (2022), Deebo Samuel (2022), Nick Bosa (2023), and Brandon Aiyuk (2024).
—
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Inside the prison walls, there is an emotional stalemate between the two men.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
The country's civil war has largely fallen into a stalemate since a 2022 truce brokered by the U.N.
The U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia have accused Ansar Allah of directly receiving weapons from Iran, though the two allies have repeatedly denied the accusations.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
In 2022, Yale New Haven Health agreed in a tentative agreement to purchase Prospect’s three hospitals for $435 million but the deal was mired in stalemates and lawsuits.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Inside the prison walls, there is an emotional stalemate between the two men.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
The country's civil war has largely fallen into a stalemate since a 2022 truce brokered by the U.N.
The U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia have accused Ansar Allah of directly receiving weapons from Iran, though the two allies have repeatedly denied the accusations.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
In 2022, Yale New Haven Health agreed in a tentative agreement to purchase Prospect’s three hospitals for $435 million but the deal was mired in stalemates and lawsuits.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate
Noun
-
People magazine similarly reported the relationship has come to a halt.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2025
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However, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought Broadway to a halt, Koguchi found herself in a foreign country, unable to perform.—
J.M. Banks,
Kansas City Star,
17 May 2025
Noun
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Speaking to Variety from a film set in Wales, Minghella illuminated his thoughts on the complicated loyalties within Nick and what ties this particular radicalized young man does — and doesn’t — have to our present political moment.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
20 May 2025
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Enlightenment ideals Ever since King Henry VIII severed his nation’s ties to Roman Catholicism in the 16th century, Irish Catholics had suffered for their faith.—
Joseph Patrick Kelly,
The Conversation,
20 May 2025
Noun
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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
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An impasse means the district and the union will continue negotiating, but with the help of a mediator.—
Melanie Asmar,
Denver Post,
7 May 2025
Noun
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Soon, Yellowstone spinoffs such as 1883 and 1923 sprouted on Paramount+, becoming a major draw for the service.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2025
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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
Noun
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For decades, the idea of big-league baseball in Orlando felt like nothing more than a mirage; especially in the shadow of the Tampa Bay Rays and the persistent deadlock surrounding a permanent stadium deal in the Bay area.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 May 2025
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But the cluster model offers a way to break persistent deadlocks on other, more controversial areas of policy, such as defense or climate action, by allowing groups of like-minded European states to cooperate more deeply without the constraint of needing EU-wide unanimity.—
Sophia Besch,
Foreign Affairs,
5 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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