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
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Recent Examples of standstill
Drivers reported being stuck in their cars for hours and footage from KABC showed a river of brake lights on the highway, as post-holiday travelers found themselves at a standstill.
—
Tristan Maglunog, ABC News, 28 Dec. 2025
Whether that be for debt consolidation, to finance major home repairs or projects next spring, or to pay for a wedding or college education, a loan in the amount of $80,000 may be the difference between getting ahead and remaining in an economic standstill.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
Although there was nothing directly in front of the white car, multiple vehicles behind the arguing men, including a school bus, came to a standstill.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 17 Dec. 2025
Many other legislative efforts to facilitate or reform immigration processes have been at a standstill.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standstill
Tristan Maglunog, ABC News, 28 Dec. 2025
Whether that be for debt consolidation, to finance major home repairs or projects next spring, or to pay for a wedding or college education, a loan in the amount of $80,000 may be the difference between getting ahead and remaining in an economic standstill.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
Although there was nothing directly in front of the white car, multiple vehicles behind the arguing men, including a school bus, came to a standstill.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 17 Dec. 2025
Many other legislative efforts to facilitate or reform immigration processes have been at a standstill.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standstill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standstill
halt
Noun
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In May 2021, one of the largest fuel pipeline systems in the United States was paralyzed when a cyberattack brought operations to an abrupt halt.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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But Friday night, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily paused that judicial order to allow time for an appeals court to decide whether to issue a more lasting halt.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Standstill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standstill. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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