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 stand off
Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
During a tense stand off, Rykov found the keys to his handcuffs and ran away from the gunfire, with Hondo chasing after him.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 17 May 2025
Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Allen’s partner pulled her to safety, and a four-hour standoff ensued, during which Carreras fired two more shots inside the condo unit, hitting a couch and kitchen wall.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stand off
Noun
Lance Smith, 74, stands off to the side of the bowl, a Coors Light in one hand, a Nikon camera in the other.
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
During a tense stand off, Rykov found the keys to his handcuffs and ran away from the gunfire, with Hondo chasing after him.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 17 May 2025
Adjective
What started as a financial disagreement quickly turned into a tense family standoff.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Allen’s partner pulled her to safety, and a four-hour standoff ensued, during which Carreras fired two more shots inside the condo unit, hitting a couch and kitchen wall.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stand off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stand off
Noun
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The Spanish government recently renounced U.S. aircraft purchases and resisted intense pressure to commit to NATO’s new 5% defense spending target, while seeking closer economic ties with China.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
12 Aug. 2025
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New York Shorts features films by directors with ties to New York: Bingham Bryant’s Doomed and Famous, Eve Liu’s Nervous Energy, Mary Rose McClain’s February Omen, Nathan Silver’s Carol & Joy, and David Cardoza’s Turtle Sandwich.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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While the lawyers’ work stoppage continues to grind the gears of justice to a halt, Hayden says that his office is doing their best to move forward with their own work.—
Matthew Medsger,
Boston Herald,
7 Aug. 2025
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After kicking off its first season in 2011, the show was brought to a halt in 2013, until the series was successfully rebooted in 2021.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Someone Almost Killed Thing Before the identities of the Hyde and its master were revealed, someone stabbed Thing, the detached hand that is the Addams family’s companion, in the back and left him hanging in Wednesday’s room.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
4 Aug. 2025
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And, true to Hidden Hills’ equestrian roots, a detached horse stable stands ready to support an active lifestyle.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This second wave of cloud repatriation isn’t about turning back the clock.—
Mark Mahle,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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After turning back a national developer’s plan for an 800,000-square-foot warehouse, a coalition of residents in rural Connecticut is preparing to challenge the company’s new proposal to construct two buildings with a total of 700,000 square feet.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Supermarket shoppers in the Miami and Orlando areas shared Monday’s lone jackpot win among the Fantasy 5, Cash4Life and Powerball draw games.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
5 Aug. 2025
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The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Several designers in the Design Museum survey call attention to this impasse with absurdism.—
Jonathon Keats,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
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The impasse on legislation started to break in 2018, along with Colorado’s purple reputation.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And with their echo for an instant echoes of the first poetry in our lives come back like music that fades into the distant night.—
Gregory Jusdanis,
Literary Hub,
12 Aug. 2025
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The future of regenerative medicine, once hypothetical and distant, now approaches with real hope for curing—not simply managing—a host of devastating chronic conditions.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Major hospitality companies Hilton, Hyatt and Wyndham also cut their full-year outlooks, citing the challenging macro environment and softening consumer demand amid concerns that travelers are holding off on trips.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Lake Forest Caucus officials are interested in creating an electronic voting option for residents and holding off, at least temporarily, on making changes to provide direction in case the Caucus Committee and the general membership have a dispute.—
Daniel I. Dorfman,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stand off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stand%20off. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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