noun

stalemate

/ˈsteɪlmeɪt/ · say it: STAYL·mayt

a situation where neither side can make progress

In From the Front Page

In more detail

1. (noun) a situation in chess where a player cannot make any legal move but is not in check, resulting in a draw

2. (noun) a deadlock or situation where no progress can be made because both sides are stuck and unable to move forward

Examples

1. The game ended in stalemate when the player had no legal moves available.
2. The negotiations reached a stalemate, with neither company willing to compromise.

How to use stalemate

Stalemate describes a situation where forward movement is impossible, often because opposing forces are equally matched. The chess definition is technical and literal, while the figurative sense applies to negotiations, politics, or conflicts where neither side can advance without conceding. It carries a tone of frustration or resignation rather than outright conflict.

Common phrases

reach a stalemate
break the stalemate
end in stalemate
political stalemate
stalemate position

Synonyms

deadlock · impasse · standstill · gridlock · draw

Opposites

progress · breakthrough

Word family

stalemate (verb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse stalemate with checkmate; checkmate means one player has lost, while stalemate is a draw and neither player wins.

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