stalemate

noun

ˈstāl-ˌmāt How to pronounce stalemate (audio)
Definition of stalematenext
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

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 most realistic outcome in Iran may be an unresolved stalemate. — Nadia Schadlow, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026 The Liverpool head coach is expected to make plenty of changes after fatigue contributed to Saturday’s stalemate with Fulham in the Premier League. — James Pearce, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 This stalemate hasn’t stopped the duo from having another successful year, with a sales volume of $645 million to prove it. — Hadley Meares, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026 His forces are failing to make significant headway on the ground in Ukraine, and the United States is mired in its own draining stalemate with Iran. — Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate
  1. halt
  2. tie
  3. impasse
  4. draw
  5. deadlock
Noun
  • But for a stock that hit a screeching halt just three months ago when the blow-up of hedge fund Situational Awareness sent a chill through the AI bull market, a more measured rally might be just what traders want.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
  • And yet that life seems to have come to a halt for Elif, a respected poet who’s been stuck in a rut for a long time.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of halt
Noun
  • Even as Democrats target his Virginia district to capitalize on a favorable 2026 environment, McGuire is doing the opposite of Republicans in some competitive races, who are softening their ties to Trump.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Plus, it can be worn over T-shirts, tank tops, and blouses, like the tie-knot one Stewart wore.
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of tie
Noun
  • The impasse dates back to summer 2023, when the City Council bifurcated the new collective bargaining agreement with the FOP.
    — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • But discussions reached an impasse earlier this month, according to a statement shared on Monday by the Indigenous Conservation Council of the Chesapeake Bay, a consortium of all seven tribes, at a program committee meeting.
    — Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of impasse
Noun
  • System-level operating strategy optimisation reduces unnecessary standby and low-load power draw.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2026
  • For Hendrikx, two subjects in the book particularly stand out for their different draws to the same passion.
    — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of draw
Noun
  • Though largely peaceful, the protests have added to an already monthlong political crisis following a deadlock of over 19 months that has blocked the election of a president and led to two early elections.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Alito’s recusal means oral arguments next Monday will include only the other eight justices, leaving open the possibility of a 4-4 deadlock.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of deadlock

Browse Nearby Words

stale
stalemate
stalemates
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Cite this Entry

“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stalemate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stalemate

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