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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of standoff
Harry Harris, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
San Diego police say the closure was due to a standoff after the driver stopped and refused to get out of the car.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2025
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 28 Apr. 2025
Carlo’s shrine stood off to the side, the reliquary protected behind a screen.
—Emily Harnett, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoff
Noun
Police went to Berry’s home and after a standoff he was arrested about 4:45 p.m. the day of the shooting.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
San Diego police say the closure was due to a standoff after the driver stopped and refused to get out of the car.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2025
Verb
Timbaland and Nachum often stand off to the side, speaking in emphatic but hushed whispers about new ideas that are coming to them in that moment.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 28 Apr. 2025
Carlo’s shrine stood off to the side, the reliquary protected behind a screen.
—Emily Harnett, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoff
Noun
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The newly available material is composed of 54 documents, including memos about the agency's work to investigate whether RFK's killer had any foreign ties, as well as the response to his killing by foreign powers.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 June 2025
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Culhane did the same with five kills in a 6-1 run to separate from a 6-6 tie to start the fourth.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
13 June 2025
Noun
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Taylor Walls belted a homer and drove in three runs, Danny Jansen added a two-run shot and Brandon Lowe had a solo homer for the Rays, who saw their four-game winning streak come to a halt.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 June 2025
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Zero visibility strategy: In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, initiate your hazard lights and locate a secure spot, such as a nearby business parking area, to pull over and come to a halt.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Established in 1980, Channel Islands National Park consists of five islands — Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and more detached Santa Barbara — and the marine reserves which lie within 1 nautical mile of the group’s 175 miles of coastline.—
Paul Bersebach,
Oc Register,
4 June 2025
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Anderson built del Toro’s role around the actor, who repays him with a beauty of a performance, embodying the detached charisma of a morally dubious tycoon with cool ease.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2025
Verb
-
In a comedic twist, the Labrador retriever was filmed turning back to his owner during the drive, with a smug look on his face as if to boast about his comfortable spot.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
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So to have a bit of a spotlight turned back on you, at this stage, is incredibly gratifying.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2025
Noun
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One of the hotel’s biggest draw cards is Catseye Pool Club, the on-site restaurant helmed by culinary power duo Josh and Julie Niland (of Saint Peter and Fish Butchery fame).—
Alli Forde,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2025
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The following evenings will see fleet-footed Mercury draw level with Jupiter, before rising above and away from the gas giant in the night sky as a result of the smaller world's tight orbit around the sun.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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In response to an impasse over the issue at a club meeting, the footballers walked out, went down the street to a nearby restaurant, and founded Football-Club Bayern Munchen.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
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Even so, Exodus was at an impasse when Hammett got an unexpected call from Metallica.—
Steve Appleford,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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Until recently, restoring meaningful vision for these patients was a distant dream.—
Shelli Brunswick,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
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Eventually, technology allows these distant intimates to share a frame.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Verb
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After holding off from casting any free-agent stones and turning to UCF’s RJ Harvey in April’s NFL draft, the Broncos’ backfield plans for 2025 seemed all but set.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
4 June 2025
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Its volcanism has made for the stuff of legends, as one eruption is suggested to have held off the army of Carthage (now northern Africa) in 396 B.C., according to the Associated Press.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoff. Accessed 21 Jun. 2025.
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