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
Relevance
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
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 standoffs
But in a world increasingly defined by diplomatic standoffs, territorial wars and trade disputes, the dollar has become a geopolitical tool.
—
Andreas Panosyan,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
For now, a bipartisan housing bill and the renewal of a key spy program have become casualties of those standoffs, and their fate was in limbo as Senate Republicans left for the July 4 recess.
—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
25 June 2026
The tangled search included multiple standoffs, a house set ablaze and an apparent communication disconnect between local police and the nation’s top law enforcement official.
—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
The move came after another night of standoffs between law enforcement and demonstrators at the facility, as protesters could be seen in photographs and videos fighting over barricades as police used riot shields to push them back.
—
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
The recent hunger strike has been met with tense standoffs between demonstrators and federal agents.
—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
The size of the College Football Playoff seems to be the most digestible of the thus-far intractable standoffs, but still, there’s no resolution on the horizon.
—
ABC News,
18 May 2026
But maritime standoffs and stop-and-go negotiations will likely drag on, Su added.
—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Andreas Panosyan,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
For now, a bipartisan housing bill and the renewal of a key spy program have become casualties of those standoffs, and their fate was in limbo as Senate Republicans left for the July 4 recess.
—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
25 June 2026
The tangled search included multiple standoffs, a house set ablaze and an apparent communication disconnect between local police and the nation’s top law enforcement official.
—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
The move came after another night of standoffs between law enforcement and demonstrators at the facility, as protesters could be seen in photographs and videos fighting over barricades as police used riot shields to push them back.
—
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
The recent hunger strike has been met with tense standoffs between demonstrators and federal agents.
—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
The size of the College Football Playoff seems to be the most digestible of the thus-far intractable standoffs, but still, there’s no resolution on the horizon.
—
ABC News,
18 May 2026
But maritime standoffs and stop-and-go negotiations will likely drag on, Su added.
—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoffs
Noun
-
Ukrainska Pravda said he was targeted by Ukrainian sanctions in 2023 for ties to Russia, a year after Moscow launched its ongoing full-scale invasion.
-
Interestingly, her bandmate Tzuyu’s frilly bloomers with garter-type ties did not fan flames on social media.
Noun
-
The automatic stay halts proceedings but doesn't compel creditors to undo pre-petition filings without operative effect.
-
Since prolonged production halts can cause permanent damage to oil wells, shutting them down is typically a last resort.
Noun
-
Having killed Downey, Amos cuts one of his deadlocks and puts it in Axel’s little red book.
-
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.
Noun
-
The second chapter intertwines misfortune and impasses.
-
The Senate unanimously approved a resolution to withhold lawmakers’ pay during government shutdowns, aiming to encourage faster resolution of federal budget impasses after record-breaking closures.
Noun
-
The legislation's passage represented a rare moment of bipartisan achievement in a Congress that has been marked by obstruction and a series of stalemates.
-
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.
Noun
-
Tracy said those will be issues the Red Sox will have to sort out, but noted that these sorts of logjams often have a way of working themselves out.
-
After clearing logjams in the White House and House of Representatives, the legislation drew broad support in an election year where both parties are increasingly aware that voters have said they're fed up with the high cost of living.
Noun
-
Steely and deliberate songwriting that casually staggers down the line between rhythm and melody, laced with loose yet conscious jams.
-
Achieving it in reality would be brutally hard because the target moves, hides, jams, uses decoys, and fights back.
Cite this Entry
“Standoffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoffs. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
