standoff 1 of 3

1
as in tie
a situation in which neither participant in a contest, competition, or struggle comes out ahead of the other after two hours they had played to a 5-5 standoff

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in halt
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in the standoff continued for three days before the fugitive gave himself up to the authorities

Synonyms & Similar Words

standoff

2 of 3

adjective

stand off

3 of 3

verb

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 stand off
Noun
Eckard and Anderson were then seen walking away from the podium and standing off to the side. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2025 Information may come in to challenge your worldview when Mars stands off with Pluto. Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
My other wildlife standoff involved a much cuter animal, but potentially far more unpleasant. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025 As soon as the Bucks did that with Lillard, attention quickly turned to the Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns, who've been mired in their own standoff for the past six months. Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for stand off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stand off
Noun
  • Netanyahu told reporters Sunday that there was an opportunity to forge new diplomatic ties with additional unspecified countries.
    James Hider, NPR, 7 July 2025
  • In recent years, a string of high-profile officials, oligarchs, and business leaders with close Kremlin ties have died under mysterious or violent circumstances.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • Combine that with a high-interest-rate environment and uncertainty over peace in the Middle East, spending came to a halt.
    Jamie L. LaReau, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
  • Over the years, the lighthouse was used as a museum and a coffee shop, but erosion from the sea forced that to come to a halt.
    Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 13 July 2025
Adjective
  • White Lake Township Chief of Police Daniel Keller said in a news release the homeowner was alerted through his video surveillance system that seven individuals had broken into his detached garage.
    Mike Stunson July 10, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2025
  • The house features five bedrooms and one bathrooms. 5. $2.1 million, single-family residence in the 6100 block of Contra Costa Road The sale of the detached house in the 6100 block of Contra Costa Road in Oakland has been finalized.
    Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • Mahomes and the Chiefs will have a new-look offense with hopes that Travis Kelce could tap into his younger self and turn back the clock to help the team back to the Super Bowl.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2025
  • That timeline might be fitting since the Ducks turned back the clock with the hire of coach Joel Quenneville, who will be 67 when the puck drops on the season opener and won Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015 with the Chicago Blackhawks.
    Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • In his most recent outing, which came in November, Barrios fought Abel Ramos to a split draw to retain the belt.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
  • The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
    Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • The impasse between the two economic superpowers — whose trade relationship totaled nearly $600 billion in 2024 — is weighing on Trump’s broader tariff regime, which is already having a real-world impact.
    Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 5 June 2025
  • Turner spent a decade in Indiana, but the NBA's two-time blocks leader seemed to be at an impasse with his state of affairs in Indianapolis.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • For mid-century home buyers, the costs of our suburban revolution were distant.
    Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 7 July 2025
  • Since his 1938 debut in Action Comics No. 1, one home for Superman has been America, even though he was born on a distant planet.
    Samantha Baskind, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • The Chapel Hill, N.C. native and Duke grad held off Green and Boyd, both Epson Tour rookies, to take the title in Milford on Sunday.
    Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2025
  • European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that the EU would hold off on implementing retaliatory tariffs for now.
    JJ Kinahan, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stand off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stand%20off. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!