Thesaurus results for STANDOFFS

standoffs

noun

plural of standoff

as in ties

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

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as in halts

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

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 standoffs In a world of great-power standoffs, climatic tipping points, and technological arms races, global hunger may not seem like a particularly significant problem. — Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026 The House overwhelmingly approved a short-term funding bill to keep the federal government running through early December, sidestepping another pre-election shutdown after last year’s record budget standoffs. — Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 But things have changed, and this week’s standoffs with Iran and Canada have underscored this. — Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026 Prosecutors failed after both standoffs to convict the Bundys, either Cliven Bundy following the Bunkerville episode or his sons after the Malheur standoff. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Throughout Operation Metro Surge, tear gas was used at several standoffs across the Twin Cities metro. — Frankie McLister, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 As fans of the series know well by now, every episode of Outer Banks is packed to the gills with twists, turns, motorcycle chases, police standoffs, knife fights, high-stakes heists, and more. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 July 2026 Over the years, the gathering has featured contract standoffs, shots directed at the league, countless years of support for coaches and coordinators, stadium posturing and always a heavy dose of optimism before a serving of orange sherbet. — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 27 July 2026 Additional confrontations and standoffs also occurred in Sikkim. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoffs

Noun

But North Korea’s deepening military ties with Russia since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine have led analysts to question whether Pyongyang is becoming less reliant on Beijing.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said in a social media post that the soldiers were only recently allowed to use plastic restraint ties and only in areas around train stations, not throughout the city.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of ties

Noun

That was March 2020, when the CEOs of General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler tried to coordinate production halts over Covid-19 fears, only to be warned by their lawyers that doing so could violate antitrust rules.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 17 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of halts

Noun

Previous budget deadlocks have toppled French governments in recent years.

— Chloe Taylor,Jenni Reid, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Disputes within legislatures sometimes led to deadlocks, and many states opted to select senators in partisan primaries or a general election.

— Christopher A. Cooper, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of deadlocks

Noun

The unsanctioned parades of cars decked out in Mexican flags have previously led to major traffic jams and impasses for emergency vehicles.

— Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of impasses

Noun

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

Definition of stalemates

Noun

The 24-piece box comes with miniature jars of jams and spreads like fig and cardamom, caramel and dark chocolate, rhubarb and strawberry, apricot and honey, and more.

— Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026
Drink Cider at an Apple Orchard Venture 20 minutes south of Galena to Orchard Landing Apple Farm to pick 14 kinds of apples apples, sample hard cider, and grab some jams, jellies, and cider donuts to go.

— Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of jams

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standoffish

standoffs

stand on

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“Standoffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoffs. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of standoffs

noun

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