1
as in tie
a situation in which neither participant in a contest, competition, or struggle comes out ahead of the other
after two hours they had played to a 5-5 standoff
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in halt
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in
the standoff continued for three days before the fugitive gave himself up to the authorities
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in detached
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
the client's standoff attitude suggested that this was going to be a strictly business relationship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of standoff
Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
His push for action by lawmakers comes even as outrage over the shooting has raised the possibility of a partial government shutdown in a week because of a standoff over additional funding for immigration enforcement.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
As Morgan and Sasha chat it up at Noah’s family’s Purim party, a sad-eyed Esther stands off to the side, quietly watching the interaction.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoff
Noun
Investors have largely shrugged off bouts of geopolitical brinkmanship, treating recent episodes, including the standoff over Greenland, as noise rather than a lasting risk.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
His push for action by lawmakers comes even as outrage over the shooting has raised the possibility of a partial government shutdown in a week because of a standoff over additional funding for immigration enforcement.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
Maybe we’re supposed to believe that that promise is what compels Lee to stand off against Frank at One Well when a smart man would be running out the door.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
As Morgan and Sasha chat it up at Noah’s family’s Purim party, a sad-eyed Esther stands off to the side, quietly watching the interaction.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoff
Noun
-
Protesters alleged one of the church’s pastors — not Parnell — has ties to immigration enforcement.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
-
After a year of Trump disrespecting European allies, many had wondered how much of the old transatlantic ties remained.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The project came to a halt after Greenland banned uranium mining in 2021 and it is now mired in litigation.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Both companies were hit hard by the pandemic, when cruising ground to a halt.—
Kevin Rozario,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
That doesn’t mean being passive or detached.—
Glenn Kurlander,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Total sales were down 1% to 5,663, and Jefferson, Douglas, Arapahoe and Adams counties all had slightly more detached home sales than Denver.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Monday's situation at the airport was much calmer, despite below-freezing temperatures that caused the weekend's rainfall to turn back into ice.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Morris shook Crockett’s hand before turning back down the sidewalk.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Remember, the park was originally protected because of its biodiversity, which is its biggest draw.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Two days of major money Florida Lottery draw games provided major money happiness to only one person.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That impasse ended in late October 2025, when Charles ordered his brother to surrender the lease on Royal Lodge.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Status quo continues until there is a new agreement or there’s an impasse in negotiations.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Some eighty-thousand men, women and children would be sentenced to transportation, taking them from Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland to a distant region of the British Empire that would come to be known as Tasmania.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In the not-too-distant past, a rocket might launch to orbit every few weeks or so.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
If the soil still appears quite moist, hold off on watering for a few more days and check again.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Even though growth in the overall number of travelers DIA handles has flattened in recent years, there’s no reason to hold off on expansion, Washington said.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoff. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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