Synonyms of standstill

standstill

noun

ˈstan(d)-ˌstil 

as in halt

a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in

battled each other to a standstill

Synonyms & Similar Words

• halt
• gridlock
• deadlock
• stalemate
• impasse
• jam
• standoff
• predicament
• logjam
• dilemma
• Mexican standoff
• problem
• bottleneck
• pickle
• bind
• dead end
• plight
• quandary
• quagmire
• corner
• hole
• morass
• difficulty
• pinch
• fix
• spot

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of standstill

Like much of the travel industry, theme parks came to a standstill during the pandemic, but Arie said his father, who founded the company, taught him that there is opportunity even amid hardship. — Eve Chen, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026

Even though there’s been a standstill, neither side believes that the talks have broken down. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

The market may be underestimating the risk of a prolonged oil standstill. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 27 July 2026

Commerce has come to a virtual standstill, with shops shuttered and the internet restricted. — Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 26 July 2026