1
as in halt
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in
a new negotiator finally got both sides past the stalemate
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2
as in tie
a situation in which neither participant in a contest, competition, or struggle comes out ahead of the other
after playing chess for 16 hours, we ended the game in a stalemate
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Recent Examples of stalemate
While the fighting between the junta and armed resistance groups was locked in a stalemate for the first two years of the conflict, observers note that the third year has seen the military on the back foot.
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Koh Ewe, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024
But the stalemate that defined 2023 laid the groundwork for Russia’s recent progress.
—Constant Méheut, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2024
The war ended in a stalemate after 34 days, after some 1,100 Lebanese and about 170 Israelis, including 120 soldiers, were killed.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 12 Oct. 2024
The resulting stalemate could very well lead to violence.
—Mohanad Hage Ali, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stalemate 
Koh Ewe, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024
But the stalemate that defined 2023 laid the groundwork for Russia’s recent progress.
—Constant Méheut, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2024
The war ended in a stalemate after 34 days, after some 1,100 Lebanese and about 170 Israelis, including 120 soldiers, were killed.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 12 Oct. 2024
The resulting stalemate could very well lead to violence.
—Mohanad Hage Ali, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stalemate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemate
Noun
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How Riley’s morning jog at the University of Georgia’s campus came to a halt on February 22.Nicole Chavez, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
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That means if the plant goes down, say in an attack, a large section of grid, or even the entire grid, comes to a halt.Peter Prengaman, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Erica Dumas, a crisis publicist with D.C. ties who once worked for Sen. John Kerry, was the only one who would agree to work with him.Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024
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The island nation occupies a key position in the region, maintaining close ties to China and the U.S. even as the two powers decouple their economies amid rising tensions.Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Healthy river:To keep the Colorado River's heart beating, people step in to do what nature once did Reaching for a consensus by year's end The states appear headed toward next month’s annual Colorado River Water Users Association conference at an impasse.Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 21 Nov. 2024
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Most likely the union impasse will be settled shortly, simply because there is little alternative for either side.Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
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The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
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The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Russia's war on Ukraine has ground to a bloody stalemate in recent months, with neither side able to decisively break the deadlock.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
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Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a former State Department official, warned that the administration must worry that continued deadlock will weaken U.S. influence in the Middle East and beyond.Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near stalemate
Cite this Entry
“Stalemate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemate. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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