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
The offense ground to a standstill, and Horford was unable to control the boards against Ivica Zubac, the Clippers’ bruising seven-foot center.
—
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
With lawmakers at a standstill over the government shutdown, some officials want to pass a short-term funding bill that would reopen the government's doors until late next year.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
After Robbie dies in Episode 6, Maeve finds herself at a standstill in processing the loss of her uncle, while also simultaneously figuring out how to survive with her niece and nephew after Robbie’s death.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Negotiations were at a standstill.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standstill
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
With lawmakers at a standstill over the government shutdown, some officials want to pass a short-term funding bill that would reopen the government's doors until late next year.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
After Robbie dies in Episode 6, Maeve finds herself at a standstill in processing the loss of her uncle, while also simultaneously figuring out how to survive with her niece and nephew after Robbie’s death.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Negotiations were at a standstill.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 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 27 Nov. 2025.
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