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
Seamus Bozeman
follow, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Authorities briefly closed a small stretch of Highway 101’s northbound lane in San Jose on Sunday afternoon during a police standoff that led to the arrest of an armed suspect.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
Frank Langfitt, NPR, 29 Jan. 2026
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
Authorities say Justin Derek Jennings then repeatedly shot at an Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter from a second-story window during a 20-minute standoff on his birthday.
—Seamus Bozeman
follow, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Authorities briefly closed a small stretch of Highway 101’s northbound lane in San Jose on Sunday afternoon during a police standoff that led to the arrest of an armed suspect.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
Verb
Protesting is standing off to the side and not interfering.
—Frank Langfitt, NPR, 29 Jan. 2026
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
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Balvin matched his turquoise, elastic waist pants with an oversized bright orange button-down and a wide butter yellow silk tie.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
-
Gently braid each section, then secure all of your hair with a hair tie.—
Ranyechi Udemezue,
Vogue,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The Huskies got a run back in the fifth and had two men on base with nobody out in the seventh when the rain brought things to a halt.—
Dave Wright,
Twin Cities,
11 June 2026
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Ukraine's successes have highlighted its ability to inflict painful damage on Russia and change the course of the conflict while Moscow’s advances recently have ground to a near halt.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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Three children who were playing hide-and-seek spotted a cat floating on the surface of the water in the garden of an unoccupied semi-detached home.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
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Over time, the bond between the sliding frame and the glass can deteriorate, causing the moonroof glass to become detached while the car is operating.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
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All turned back from fear or foul weather.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
2 June 2026
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For two nights, Mister A’s is turning back the clock to the mid-1960s for a special prix-fixe meal.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 June 2026
Noun
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In eight matches all-time, Landslaget has two wins, three draws and three losses, all of the defeats coming against Italy – in 1938, 1994 and ‘98.—
Laurence Miedema,
Mercury News,
7 June 2026
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Nor, did anyone hit the proper Florida Lotto numbers for the top prize, now $2 million for Wednesday’s draw.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
7 June 2026
Noun
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Eastside Innovation, the developer trying to bring a billion-dollar, mixed-use development to the site where Indian Springs Mall once stood, has reached an impasse with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK over a key sticking point.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
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The vote June 3, which was mostly symbolic, marked a new period of congressional unease with the conflict in the Middle East amid an impasse in peace negotiations.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Each time, brown leaves that had drifted from distant trees quivered and spun on the surface.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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The intricate arches perfectly frame patches of sky or distant mountains.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday afternoon said Israel would hold off on further strikes against Iran, provided the fire is contained on both sides.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
9 June 2026
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Axios, citing two Israeli officials, said Israel was preparing for the biggest wave of strikes on Iran since April before Netanyahu agreed to hold off.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoff. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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