1
as in halts
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 ties
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 stalemates
Another reason is that the federal government is now viewed by many as so routinely dysfunctional that budget stalemates are seen as just one more example of a broader breakdown.
—
Susan Page, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 prompted unified Western sanctions, massive military aid, and rhetorical solidarity, but by late 2025, strategic divergences had widened amid battlefield stalemates, economic fatigue, and diplomatic initiatives.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
The stalemates were the latest in the finger-pointing between Democrats and Republicans over who was responsible for the prolonged shutdown.
—Lawrence Andrea, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Netanyahu once shunned long wars and ground operations, aware of the cost and political capital that resulted in indecisive conclusions or stalemates.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Susan Page, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 prompted unified Western sanctions, massive military aid, and rhetorical solidarity, but by late 2025, strategic divergences had widened amid battlefield stalemates, economic fatigue, and diplomatic initiatives.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
The stalemates were the latest in the finger-pointing between Democrats and Republicans over who was responsible for the prolonged shutdown.
—Lawrence Andrea, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Netanyahu once shunned long wars and ground operations, aware of the cost and political capital that resulted in indecisive conclusions or stalemates.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemates
Noun
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In practice the printer ran for about 3 months (including setup and halts), whereas a traditional cast bridge might have taken 3–4 times longer.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
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Former leaders warn that the loss of institutional knowledge, combined with halts to the incoming pipeline of public health workers, may lead to a long-term crisis.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Twelve people were arrested on federal and state charges during the joint-enforcement operation, which authorities said dismantled a significant drug trafficking network with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, responsible for providing cocaine to the Norteños criminal street gang.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
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Working with durable synthetic materials and intricate knotting techniques, the Miami artist explored resilience, preservation and the ties that bind communities together, turning simple text into quiet moments of reflection.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
Noun
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The Senate unanimously approved a resolution to withhold lawmakers’ pay during government shutdowns, aiming to encourage faster resolution of federal budget impasses after record-breaking closures.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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How long should these impasses between words, ideas, formal breakthroughs last, anyway, in any one spell of writing?—
Dan Chiasson,
The New York Review of Books,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Additionally, the teams competing weren’t particularly strong draws for neutrals at a World Cup.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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The two most encouraging highlights of that streak were the draws against Belgium and Portugal.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Having killed Downey, Amos cuts one of his deadlocks and puts it in Axel’s little red book.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2025
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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for reform of the Security Council's permanent members in his annual statement on the anniversary of the United Nations charter, arguing that the current establishment excludes key global voices and suffers from too many deadlocks.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stalemates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemates. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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