1
as in ties
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 halts
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of standoffs
One of the more memorable in-person music standoffs featured hip-hop collectives The LOX and Dipset at Madison Square Garden in August 2021.
—
Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
In the lawsuit, DirecTV also warned of what will happen in the event of a blackout of channels, the result of contractural standoffs between major media companies and multichannel distributors.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Similarly, a proposal led by House Transportation Chair Sam Graves, R-Missouri, would allow the FAA to access a wartime emergency fund during budget standoffs to keep critical aviation operations running smoothly.
—Jackson Shedelbower, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
Gritz attempted to act as a mediator in other standoffs later in the decade but did not find the same success.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
That’s because Putin is focused on Ukraine, and Norway is skilled in de-escalating tense standoffs.
—Tom Yulsman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
The congress, which began last Thursday, comes as Kim grows increasingly assertive in regional politics, following an aggressive expansion of his nuclear arsenal and closer ties with Russia forged through joint war efforts in Ukraine, which have deepened his standoffs with Washington and Seoul.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
When clearing out your glassware collection, keep coordinating sets together and donate the random standoffs.
—Kaylei Fear, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Feb. 2026
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have also been involved in the territorial standoffs but have avoided condemning China’s assertiveness.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
In the lawsuit, DirecTV also warned of what will happen in the event of a blackout of channels, the result of contractural standoffs between major media companies and multichannel distributors.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Similarly, a proposal led by House Transportation Chair Sam Graves, R-Missouri, would allow the FAA to access a wartime emergency fund during budget standoffs to keep critical aviation operations running smoothly.
—Jackson Shedelbower, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
Gritz attempted to act as a mediator in other standoffs later in the decade but did not find the same success.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
That’s because Putin is focused on Ukraine, and Norway is skilled in de-escalating tense standoffs.
—Tom Yulsman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
The congress, which began last Thursday, comes as Kim grows increasingly assertive in regional politics, following an aggressive expansion of his nuclear arsenal and closer ties with Russia forged through joint war efforts in Ukraine, which have deepened his standoffs with Washington and Seoul.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
When clearing out your glassware collection, keep coordinating sets together and donate the random standoffs.
—Kaylei Fear, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Feb. 2026
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have also been involved in the territorial standoffs but have avoided condemning China’s assertiveness.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoffs
Noun
-
Traditionally reliant on French institutional funding, the event now confronts an uncertain future as Mali’s military government severs ties with its former colonial overlord.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The joint move from Kennedy and Zeldin comes as activists from Kennedy’s MAHA movement have forged fragile political ties with the EPA but expressed frustration with lack of action on their priorities, including pesticide regulation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Former leaders warn that the loss of institutional knowledge, combined with halts to the incoming pipeline of public health workers, may lead to a long-term crisis.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Automotive industry analysts are forecasting that another microchip shortage could hit in the coming months, which could increase risks for production halts as costs skyrocket.—
Breana Noble,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Having killed Downey, Amos cuts one of his deadlocks and puts it in Axel’s little red book.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2025
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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for reform of the Security Council's permanent members in his annual statement on the anniversary of the United Nations charter, arguing that the current establishment excludes key global voices and suffers from too many deadlocks.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While controllers may not be caught in the latest political game of chicken, proactively protecting these federal employees from paycheck lapses would prevent additional airport chaos during future funding impasses.—
Jackson Shedelbower,
Oc Register,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The problems during the latest shutdown are renewing attention to ways to prevent airport security operations from being slowed during political impasses, including allowing more airports to outsource security screening while maintaining TSA oversight.—
John Seewer,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Another reason is that the federal government is now viewed by many as so routinely dysfunctional that budget stalemates are seen as just one more example of a broader breakdown.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
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Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 prompted unified Western sanctions, massive military aid, and rhetorical solidarity, but by late 2025, strategic divergences had widened amid battlefield stalemates, economic fatigue, and diplomatic initiatives.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The pilot program begins with off-peak trains so Metra can avoid logjams.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Removing the bridge will improve the flow of water on the Kankakee and lessen the need for crews to repeatedly remove logjams there.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Working with strict limitations—no more than five instruments; just one hour to make each track—the two West Coast leftfield vets turn out a surprisingly expansive set of wooly electronic jams.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
30 Mar. 2026
-
And all shows and jams ceased to exist.—
Des Moines Register,
Des Moines Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Standoffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoffs. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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