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
Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
The international community watches closely to see if negotiations can bridge the gap or if the standoff will spiral toward a new regional crisis.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 2025
General manager Brandon Gomes stood off to the left alongside pitching coach Mark Prior as Sasaki went through his delivery, high leg kick and all.
—Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoff
Noun
In March 2025, a man experiencing a mental health crisis was arrested outside CIA headquarters after an hours-long barricade standoff event.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
The international community watches closely to see if negotiations can bridge the gap or if the standoff will spiral toward a new regional crisis.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
Verb
His interest became public in January at the height of an angry stand off over rate decisions between the utility industry and Marissa Gillett, Lamont’s appointee to chair the regulatory authority.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 2025
General manager Brandon Gomes stood off to the left alongside pitching coach Mark Prior as Sasaki went through his delivery, high leg kick and all.
—Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoff
Noun
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Speaking to Variety from a film set in Wales, Minghella illuminated his thoughts on the complicated loyalties within Nick and what ties this particular radicalized young man does — and doesn’t — have to our present political moment.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
20 May 2025
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Enlightenment ideals Ever since King Henry VIII severed his nation’s ties to Roman Catholicism in the 16th century, Irish Catholics had suffered for their faith.—
Joseph Patrick Kelly,
The Conversation,
20 May 2025
Noun
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People magazine similarly reported the relationship has come to a halt.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2025
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However, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought Broadway to a halt, Koguchi found herself in a foreign country, unable to perform.—
J.M. Banks,
Kansas City Star,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
The sale of the detached house in the 2300 block of Fruitdale Ave., San Jose, has been finalized.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
-
Through it all, there’s the metronomic wash of the tides onto the sand, waves lapping the beach, the undulation of the ocean, and the cityscape of Rockaway, with its large apartment buildings and detached houses, in the background.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Obama turned back and grabbed Biden's arm, guiding him backstage.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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Hendricks turned back the clock on the Padres after the first inning.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2025
Noun
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Other golf meccas like Myrtle Beach (S.C), Hilton Head (S.C.), Phoenix/Scottsdale, and Palm Springs (Calif.) are unquestionably national draws for traveling golfers with a wealth of golf courses across a range of facilities.—
Erik Matuszewski,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
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And the team controlled 17 of 24 draws courtesy of the trio of redshirt sophomore Kaleigh Harden (six draw controls), graduate student Sophie Student (five) and freshman Eliza Osburn (four).—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
25 May 2025
Noun
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That timeline is where the two rivals find themselves at an impasse.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
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The California Department of Human Resources filed an unfair practice charge against the union, arguing that bargaining had not reached an impasse when those workers went on strike.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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Dan, who secured 20.89% in the first round, was a distant second.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
19 May 2025
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Its Dragonfly mission will launch in July 2028 atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket and reach the distant moon in 2034.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
Verb
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Chris Que, a regional director at a home appliances factory in the southern city of Guangzhou, says his company has held off selling to the U.S. market for now, due to concerns over volatility.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
27 May 2025
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Those who traditionally hire in the summer may hold off this year.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoff. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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