standoff 1 of 3

noun

ˈstand-ˌȯf How to pronounce standoff (audio)
Definition of standoffnext
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

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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

as in detached
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others the client's standoff attitude suggested that this was going to be a strictly business relationship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stand off

3 of 3

verb

as in to turn back

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Dissimilar 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 standoff
Noun
The project spanned five presidential administrations, an ownership change, a major reroute, and a standoff with a US military base. — Sara Herschander, Vox, 22 Oct. 2026 The latest standoff is over a pair of revenue-generating digital billboards the tribe erected on the Sunrise Highway that the state Department of Transportation claims pose a dangerous distraction to passing motorists. — Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
It was founded in 1950 as a humble fruit stand off of Highway 40 by Sam and Sally Ikeda, Derek Ikeda’s grandparents. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026 After their initial embrace, Dart stood off to the side to listen to Carter speak. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for standoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoff
  1. tie
  2. halt
  3. detached
  4. turn back
  5. draw
  6. impasse
  7. distant
  8. hold off
Noun
  • The Wednesday announcement by Sanrio’s Chinese subsidiary came just after French soccer star Kylian Mbappé apologized for remarks about late Chinese leader Mao Zedong that saw several Chinese sponsors cut ties with him.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2026
  • An organization with Republican ties has distributed fliers promoting a socialist candidate, an apparent effort to pull support away from Brown.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of tie
Noun
  • According to Puente, a computer failure led to the initial halt of six moving trains, including the two trains that subsequently collided.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • During the 2008 financial crisis, most of the construction at Martis Camp came to a virtual halt.
    — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of halt
Adjective
  • The exterior entry and upper-level access of the detached, two-story guesthouse.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Goldfish centers on a 17-year-old high school senior who presents as detached, ironic and emotionally armored, but underneath is quietly paralyzed by fear of failure, abandonment and becoming his parents.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of detached
Verb
  • The fall 2026 collection from Taller Marmo turned back the clock with its designs, creating dresses and gowns inspired by film noir, Old Hollywood glamour and 1920s evening wear, a fit for her club-crooner aesthetic.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The clocks haven’t turned back yet, but the mood shift is already underway.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of turn back
Noun
  • With the draw, Inter Miami fell into third place behind the New England Revolution.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
  • His most recent appearance under Nuno was the FA Cup quarter-final defeat at home against Leeds United, on penalties after a 2-2 draw, in April.
    — Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of draw
Noun
  • The next week, Trout tried to end the impasse by passing along a memo from Citation.
    — Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Under binding arbitration, an independent referee is brought in when negotiators hit an impasse.
    — Jon Regardie, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of impasse
Adjective
  • An exuberant pre-dawn sky — filled with large, bright stars, a luminous crescent moon, and blue and white swirls — dominates the landscape featuring a prominent cypress tree and distant hillside village.
    — Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The changes include allowing the adoption of distant male relatives raised as commoners to become royals and father future heirs, and letting princesses keep their royal status after marrying commoners.
    — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of distant
Verb
  • Markets expect the Fed to hold off on a rate hike in October but then to institute another quarter percentage point increase in December.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Assembly Republican Leader Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare, did not explicitly say that the governor should hold off on commuting sentences, but urged him to consider the parents who had to bury their children before making the decision.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of hold off

Phrases Containing standoff

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stand-ins
standoff
stand off
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Cite this Entry

“Standoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoff. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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