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
Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
The turmoil has coincided with a standoff in Congress over funding for the department.
—Nik Popli, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
Benjamin Royer, Daily News, 1 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
How Anthropic's investors lobby Amodei behind the scenes—either pushing for conciliation or urging it to hold firm—could shape the outcome of the standoff.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
The turmoil has coincided with a standoff in Congress over funding for the department.
—Nik Popli, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
At Big Ten Media Day in Chicago, Leger-Walker often stood off to the side, creating TikTok videos and social media content of Rice and senior center Lauren Betts.
—Benjamin Royer, Daily News, 1 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
-
Such a distinction had only ever applied to infrastructure firms, like Huawei or Kaspersky Labs, with ties to adversarial foreign governments, and there was no domestic precedent.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The game featured 16 lead changes and 11 ties, and Acuff, the SEC’s scoring leader and league’s player and freshman of the year, had 21 in the first half to keep Arkansas within 39-37 at halftime.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The LeMans pulls to a halt right where the camera can look through the open passenger window.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Concerns over oil prices have remained elevated this week, as oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz ground to a halt due to the threat of Iranian attacks on vessels.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But also, the way that the hospice nurses are so compassionate and calm and present, but at the same time detached.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The number of days homes spent on the market dropped sharply, down 30% for attached homes and 40% for detached homes.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Each woman in her family is born with a silver ticket, the gift to turn back time just once.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
But the tides have turned back in Mar’s favor.—
Siobhan Reid,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, March 8, 2026.—
USA Today staff,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After bargaining talks toward a new contract had reached an impasse, the union voted in January to authorize a strike.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Anderson says the men have reached an impasse and is asking a judge to dissolve their business connections.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The prospects for a resumption of Gulf oil exports look distant, absent a major diplomatic or military breakthrough, after Iran reportedly started laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.—
Dominic Dudley,
semafor.com,
11 Mar. 2026
-
After Phase 2 is complete, test-flights are expected to begin in early 2028, in the not-so-distant future.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Even with an earlier final frost, though, gardeners should monitor soil temperatures and hold off on warm-season transplants until the soil is consistently warm.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Texas is 10 minutes away from a SEC championship, but can the Longhorns hold off South Carolina?—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoff. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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