Synonyms of stalemate

stalemate

noun

ˈstāl-ˌmāt 

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

• halt
• impasse
• deadlock
• gridlock
• standstill
• standoff
• predicament
• jam
• logjam
• dilemma
• Mexican standoff
• pickle
• problem
• quandary
• bottleneck
• bind
• quagmire
• hole
• plight
• morass
• corner
• dead end
• fix
• difficulty
• pinch
• spot

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

• tie
• draw
• standoff
• deadlock
• impasse
• dead heat
• seesaw
• horse race
• toss-up
• photo finish

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stalemate

Instead, most Republicans stood firm in a critical hearing with an administration waging a hugely unpopular war, while Democrats highlighted the gap between its premature victory laps and the current stalemate. — Arpita Dasika, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Earlier in 2026, the agency's high-profile operations in multiple cities led to calls for more accountability and transparency in immigration enforcement and a months-long stalemate over the agency's funding. — Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 22 July 2026

The two of you are at a stalemate, and without mediation, your situation won’t change. — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 19 July 2026

The stalemate has raised fears of an endless war, something Trump campaigned on avoiding, as tit-for-tat attacks continue along an escalating spiral. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 18 July 2026