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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stand off
Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Everything felt familiar about the first as Victor Kristiansen stood off Ethan Nwaneri, allowing a dangerous cross to be clipped in.
—Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025
As soon as the Bucks did that with Lillard, attention quickly turned to the Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns, who've been mired in their own standoff for the past six months.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stand off
Noun
Information may come in to challenge your worldview when Mars stands off with Pluto.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Everything felt familiar about the first as Victor Kristiansen stood off Ethan Nwaneri, allowing a dangerous cross to be clipped in.
—Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
My other wildlife standoff involved a much cuter animal, but potentially far more unpleasant.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025
As soon as the Bucks did that with Lillard, attention quickly turned to the Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns, who've been mired in their own standoff for the past six months.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stand off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stand off
Noun
-
In recent years, a string of high-profile officials, oligarchs, and business leaders with close Kremlin ties have died under mysterious or violent circumstances.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
7 July 2025
-
And in the spirit of Texas, it’s got a lot of features that proudly display its ties to the longhorn state.—
Karl Brauer,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
About three-quarters of the way through the video, the song screeches to a halt, as the video shows four men listening to a boombox.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
5 July 2025
-
On the conflict in Ukraine, Ushakov said Trump emphasized his push for a quick halt to the fighting, and Putin voiced Moscow’s readiness to pursue talks with Kyiv, noting the previous rounds in Turkey yielded humanitarian results.—
Vladimir Isachenkov,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
The house features four bedrooms and one bathrooms. 2. $9.7 million, single-family residence in the 100 block of Pineview Lane A sale has been finalized for the detached house in the 100 block of Pineview Lane in Menlo Park.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
26 June 2025
-
Prices hold steady Home prices remained stable, with the median sale price for a detached home rising about 1 percent month-over-month to $665,000.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
10 May 2025
Verb
-
But that wasn’t always the case, and this past week NESN turned back the clock and gave Red Sox fans a different kind of viewing experience.—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
7 July 2025
-
That timeline might be fitting since the Ducks turned back the clock with the hire of coach Joel Quenneville, who will be 67 when the puck drops on the season opener and won Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015 with the Chicago Blackhawks.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
In his most recent outing, which came in November, Barrios fought Abel Ramos to a split draw to retain the belt.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
-
The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
The impasse between the two economic superpowers — whose trade relationship totaled nearly $600 billion in 2024 — is weighing on Trump’s broader tariff regime, which is already having a real-world impact.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
5 June 2025
-
Turner spent a decade in Indiana, but the NBA's two-time blocks leader seemed to be at an impasse with his state of affairs in Indianapolis.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
For mid-century home buyers, the costs of our suburban revolution were distant.—
Marina Bolotnikova,
Vox,
7 July 2025
-
Since his 1938 debut in Action Comics No. 1, one home for Superman has been America, even though he was born on a distant planet.—
Samantha Baskind,
Smithsonian Magazine,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that the EU would hold off on implementing retaliatory tariffs for now.—
JJ Kinahan,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
The Chapel Hill, N.C. native and Duke grad held off Green and Boyd, both Epson Tour rookies, to take the title in Milford on Sunday.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stand off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stand%20off. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share