Synonyms of standoffs

standoffs

noun

plural of standoff

1

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

• ties
• draws
• stalemates
• dead heats
• deadlocks
• impasses
• seesaws
• photo finishes
• horse races
• toss-ups

2

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

• halts
• deadlocks
• impasses
• stalemates
• logjams
• standstills
• jams
• gridlocks
• predicaments
• Mexican standoffs
• dilemmas
• holes
• problems
• bottlenecks
• plights
• pickles
• corners
• quandaries
• dead ends
• fixes
• binds
• quagmires
• pinches
• morasses
• difficulties
• spots

Example Sentences

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