stalemate

3 definitions • 4 examples

a situation in which neither group involved in an argument can win or get an advantage and no action can be taken:

Tomorrow's meeting between the two leaders is expected to break a diplomatic stalemate that has lasted for ten years.

Despite long discussions, the workers and the management remain locked in stalemate.

in chess, a position in which one player is unable to move, but their king is not being attacked, which means that neither of the two players wins

a situation in which nothing can change or no action can be taken:

[ U ] Stalemate in Congress over education reform has made voters angry.

[ C ] The arrival of fresh troops broke the military stalemate.