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
Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 6 May 2025
In 2009, Benedict gave Cardinal Parolin another difficult assignment, as the Vatican’s ambassador to Venezuela, where prelates were in a tense standoff with Hugo Chávez’s leftist government.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 3 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
Police took a man into custody following a standoff at a Meridian home on Monday afternoon.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 6 May 2025
In 2009, Benedict gave Cardinal Parolin another difficult assignment, as the Vatican’s ambassador to Venezuela, where prelates were in a tense standoff with Hugo Chávez’s leftist government.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 3 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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Thanks to that songwriting session, Pattie also has ties to one of the Beatles’ most popular hits.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
20 May 2025
-
Salmon’s first varsity hit, a single on a ground ball, came in the fifth and broke a 1-1 tie.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
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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For all their existing domestic strife (or perhaps even because of it), United remain a huge draw the world over.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
-
Soon, Yellowstone spinoffs such as 1883 and 1923 sprouted on Paramount+, becoming a major draw for the service.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2025
Noun
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As the impasse dragged on, frustrated townspeople took matters into their own hands, literally locking the indecisive cardinals inside the meeting hall and even removing the roof to speed the process.—
Barney Henderson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
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After more than a year of bargaining, the union representing roughly 800 City of Portland workers declared an impasse in contract negotiations and could strike as soon as next month.—
Axios Portland,
Axios,
7 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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Minnesota led by as many as 25 points in the third quarter and managed to hold off a late Warriors run that closed the gap to nine in the fourth.—
Matias Grez,
CNN Money,
15 May 2025
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California Amid Trump trade war, L.A. urged to hold off on wage hikes for tourism workers May 7, 2025 L.A.’s political leaders have enacted a number of wage laws over the last few decades.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoff. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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