Synonyms of stalemates

stalemates

noun

plural of stalemate

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

• halts
• impasses
• deadlocks
• standstills
• logjams
• jams
• gridlocks
• standoffs
• predicaments
• dilemmas
• bottlenecks
• problems
• quandaries
• pickles
• Mexican standoffs
• quagmires
• holes
• plights
• binds
• corners
• morasses
• dead ends
• fixes
• difficulties
• pinches
• spots

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

• ties
• draws
• standoffs
• deadlocks
• impasses
• dead heats
• seesaws
• horse races
• toss-ups
• photo finishes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stalemates

Tired of budget stalemates, deficits and continuous acrimony in the state Capitol, California voters in 2010 started taking action to temper political gridlock and loosen the grip of entrenched special interests. — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026

The legislation's passage represented a rare moment of bipartisan achievement in a Congress that has been marked by obstruction and a series of stalemates. — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 24 June 2026

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