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
Relevance
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
Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
The drone was not the only piece of new technology deployed during the standoff.
—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Art De Roché,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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
Following an awkward standoff, Devers eventually relented and walked off the field, hiding his face in his helmet.
—
Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
The drone was not the only piece of new technology deployed during the standoff.
—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Verb
Already ahead on the scoreboard from the ninth minute, Arsenal could stand off and allow their opponents to work themselves into a frenzy.
—
Art De Roché,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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
-
Misiorowski didn’t give up a hit until Seiya Suzuki broke a scoreless tie with a home run to lead off the fifth inning.
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Sean walked the runway in a satin blazer overcoat with jeans, a button-up shirt and a tie.
Noun
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South Korea's Kospi closed down almost 6%, a rout that sparked a 20-minute trading halt, after a volatile week for chip giant and market heavyweight SK hynix, whose share price shed more than eight percent Friday.
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The lawsuit also asks for a halt to all new fossil fuel projects.
Adjective
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They got approved for a mortgage on a £150,000 (about $198,441) two-bedroom, semi-detached house in Seaham, England.
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Olise has purposefully cultivated a kind of detached non-persona.
Verb
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Beyond markets, investors are also watching geopolitical risks, with attention turning back to the Middle East.
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That’s why the oil market won’t instantly turn back on like a light switch even as the Strait of Hormuz has reopened.
Noun
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After Iran played to a draw Sunday at SoFi Stadium, its second of the World Cup in as many matches, the team’s coach began his postmatch assessment by backing up six months.
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The teen, who attended Monday’s 2-2 draw with New Zealand and has a ticket for Sunday’s match against Belgium, is one of several fans from Los Angeles who made the drive to stay with the team.
Noun
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Simultaneously, contract negotiations with center Walker Kessler are at an impasse over a five-year, $140 million offer, with Kessler reportedly frustrated.
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The impasse is amplified by the Department of the Interior staffing and budget cuts.
Adjective
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Assemblymember Alex Bores, had 35%, followed by Schlossberg, who trailed in a distant third with less than 11%.
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Wet paint auctions feel like a distant memory, with frivolous, speculative art buying, especially from 2020 to 2022, now being passé.
Verb
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In spring, hold off before chopping up the leaves to use on potatoes or to garnish soups and salads.
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Both Ghana and England will walk away with a point after Ghana managed to hold off England in a heart-pounding final few minutes of stoppage time.
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoff. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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