stands off

verb

present tense third-person singular of stand off
as in holds off

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stands off
  1. turns back
  2. turns away
  3. resists
  4. opposes
  5. withstands
Verb
  • Those talks have since stalled as Tehran focuses on negotiating the future of the Strait of Hormuz and Washington turns back to diplomacy.
    — Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The opening holes may not immediately reveal what awaits, but that changes quickly as the course turns back on itself and descends into a stunning, secluded valley that eventually opens toward the coastline.
    — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of turns back
Verb
  • The insect naturally turns away when an antenna touches an obstacle.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 July 2026
  • The bear, seemingly frightened, quickly turns away from the boy and continues running, sliding under a boat parked in the driveway.
    — Mason Leib, ABC News, 7 July 2026
Definition of turns away
Verb
  • The president, who generally resists admitting fault, has recently made several reversals responding to ethical concerns.
    — Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Altman resists calling the broader set of incidents a total loss-of-control event.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of resists
Verb
  • Netanyahu's nationalistic base opposes concessions to the Palestinians.
    — SEUNG MIN KIM, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • This sense of necessity entirely opposes the narrative contingency in Spider-Noir’s other genre.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of opposes
Verb
  • This pair is a smart choice for walk-to-run beginners who are looking for a budget-friendly shoe that withstands serious mileage.
    — Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • If the map withstands a court challenge, Cleaver will have to win over voters in both Democratic Kansas City and the solidly Trump parts of Missouri.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of withstands
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.

Browse Nearby Words

stands in
stands off
stands on
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Cite this Entry

“Stands off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stands%20off. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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