stalemates

noun

plural of stalemate
1
as in halts
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in ties
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

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 stalemates Tired of budget stalemates, deficits and continuous acrimony in the state Capitol, California voters in 2010 started taking action to temper political gridlock and loosen the grip of entrenched special interests. — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 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. — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 24 June 2026 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. — Susan Page, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026 Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 prompted unified Western sanctions, massive military aid, and rhetorical solidarity, but by late 2025, strategic divergences had widened amid battlefield stalemates, economic fatigue, and diplomatic initiatives. — Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026 The stalemates were the latest in the finger-pointing between Democrats and Republicans over who was responsible for the prolonged shutdown. — Lawrence Andrea, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025 Netanyahu once shunned long wars and ground operations, aware of the cost and political capital that resulted in indecisive conclusions or stalemates. — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalemates
  1. halts
  2. ties
  3. impasses
  4. draws
  5. deadlocks
Noun
  • The automatic stay halts proceedings but doesn't compel creditors to undo pre-petition filings without operative effect.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • Since prolonged production halts can cause permanent damage to oil wells, shutting them down is typically a last resort.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 June 2026
Definition of halts
Noun
  • There’s also been lots of moments to dress up for too, with megawatt tours from Harry Styles, Ariana Grande, and Zara Larsson; maximalist pop stars with fans eager to follow their lead in sequins and ties, hibiscus flowers in hair.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The order came after a man, who admitted to killing former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, had said he was motivated by a desire to expose Japanese politicians’ ties to the Unification Church.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of ties
Noun
  • California law bars law enforcement officers and firefighters from striking against public employers, instead providing dispute-resolution procedures for labor impasses.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The second chapter intertwines misfortune and impasses.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Definition of impasses
Noun
  • The loss ended a four-game streak of draws for Angel City (7-6-7).
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The deterioration in DeepMind’s talent flows coincided with the lab tightening its publication rules, Hurd said, something that Zeki researchers say may have weakened one of the lab’s most important draws for research-minded staff.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of draws
Noun
  • Across 10 trials, the system achieved a 90 percent autonomous success rate with four robots and 70 percent with eight, while recovering from navigation errors and formation deadlocks without human assistance.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
  • Having killed Downey, Amos cuts one of his deadlocks and puts it in Axel’s little red book.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
Definition of deadlocks

Browse Nearby Words

stalemate
stalemates
staleness
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Cite this Entry

“Stalemates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalemates. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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