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
See video … LISTEN Tune in for a break down on how the DHS funding stalemate is straining airport security nationwide.
—
FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Despite this, the Monitor’s encounter with the Confederacy’s Virginia during Hampton Roads ended in a stalemate.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Mar. 2026
Fortunately, a stalemate was broken that same day, albeit a temporary one.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
The same party won an election in February 2025 but could not muster a parliamentary majority, which led to a stalemate and snap vote in December.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Despite this, the Monitor’s encounter with the Confederacy’s Virginia during Hampton Roads ended in a stalemate.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Mar. 2026
Fortunately, a stalemate was broken that same day, albeit a temporary one.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
The same party won an election in February 2025 but could not muster a parliamentary majority, which led to a stalemate and snap vote in December.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stalemate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate
Noun
-
The LeMans pulls to a halt right where the camera can look through the open passenger window.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Concerns over oil prices have remained elevated this week, as oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz ground to a halt due to the threat of Iranian attacks on vessels.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Such a distinction had only ever applied to infrastructure firms, like Huawei or Kaspersky Labs, with ties to adversarial foreign governments, and there was no domestic precedent.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The game featured 16 lead changes and 11 ties, and Acuff, the SEC’s scoring leader and league’s player and freshman of the year, had 21 in the first half to keep Arkansas within 39-37 at halftime.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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One officer in Nashville and his wife have suffered health issues since the fall impasse because of the stress.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Washington — The Senate failed again on Thursday to advance a measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security, with the impasse growing increasingly acrimonious nearly a month into the partial shutdown.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, March 15, 2026.—
USA Today staff,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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Despite playing a man down from the 56th minute, the hosts were the better team in the 0-0 draw and Lyon now lags two points behind third-place Marseille in the Ligue 1 standings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Fraser Minten, who had hit a post in the first period, clanged the crossbar on a redirect just as a power play had expired and the sides went into the third in a 0-0 deadlock.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
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Now in its fourth week, the impasse has left the Department of Homeland Security operating without a budget due to a congressional deadlock between Democrats and Republicans.—
Chase Jordan
March 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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