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
Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 13 Apr. 2026
An internal investigation is underway after a sheriff's deputy involved in a SWAT operation in California was allegedly seen scrolling on what appeared to be a dating app during a standoff.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for standoff
Noun
That disagreement led to a temporary standoff, with the acting DNI initially declining to transmit the complaint to Congress before Atkinson notified lawmakers himself.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 13 Apr. 2026
An internal investigation is underway after a sheriff's deputy involved in a SWAT operation in California was allegedly seen scrolling on what appeared to be a dating app during a standoff.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
Her daughter stood off to the side, crying, watching her brother and mother get attacked.
—Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for standoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoff
Noun
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Instead the Tigers had men at second and third with two outs, and Chapman was able to preserve the scoreless tie by striking out Dillon Dingler to end the inning.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
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Suarez had history here — Cal roots, Bay ties, and a game that seemingly fits with the identity of Golden State’s team.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Yet the president couldn’t resist posting on Truth Social three times about his ballroom plans after a judge ordered a halt to all work above ground.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Apr. 2026
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The ceasefire came after Lebanon insisted on a halt to Israel’s monthlong conflict with Hezbollah before further talks, though Lebanese President Joseph Aoun initially refused to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The title may be clinical and detached; the image on its cover is anything but.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
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The fire also damaged two neighboring houses and a detached garage.—
Robert A. Cronkleton
March 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Two of the oil-carrying ships turned back in the first two hours after the blockade went into effect Monday morning.—
Gordon Lubold,
NBC news,
14 Apr. 2026
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At least two vessels that had appeared to be heading for the exit turned back.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Powerball jackpot is up to $87 million for Monday, and the Florida Lotto top prize will be at $17 million for the Wednesday draw after nobody had a ticket with all those main draw numbers.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
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The results are in for the West Virginia Lottery’s draw games on Saturday, April 18, 2026.—
USA Today staff,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Calls for airport screening privatization may appear to be a knee-jerk reaction to the Department of Homeland Security funding impasse in Congress.—
Sheldon H. Jacobson,
Twin Cities,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The council was split on the proposal, in the end reaching a 3-3 vote impasse, with Mayor Larry Agran and Councilmembers Betty Martinez Franco and Melinda Liu opposed, and Mike Carrol absent.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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During the 2020 pandemic in particular, this became an appealing message, giving viewers a place to hang out with optimistic, hopeful TV friends who were delivering comfort from the recent — but now seemingly all-too-distant — past.—
Jennifer Armstrong,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
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Across Chinese university campuses, students are also checking out books on Iran to learn why the US wanted to go to war with a country that to them seems distant and mysterious.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But hold off on warm-season annuals and vegetables, such as tomatoes, until your area's frost-free date.—
Midwest Living,
Midwest Living,
14 Apr. 2026
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Others believe that Xi will hold off on any action until 2028, an election year in Taiwan, hoping that the Kuomintang will retake the presidency and be open to negotiating a cross-Taiwan Strait settlement.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoff. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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