stalemate
noun
a position of the pieces in which a player cannot move any piece except the king and cannot move the king without putting it in check.
stalemates
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pluralof stalemate.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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present tense formof stalemate (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
stalematenouna position of the pieces in which a player cannot move any piece except the king and cannot move the king without putting it in check.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There have been a lot of draws at this tournament but that doesn't mean they've all been dull stalemates, and the match I've most enjoyed so far was the Netherlands' draw with Japan.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
The fear was that increasing the field by 50% would dilute the competition beyond recognition, leading to a parade of uncomfortable blowouts or overly conservative stalemates between teams desperate to avoid national humiliation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
But after navigating permitting delays, insurance stalemates and design flaws, there’s still one big unresolved issue that’s complicating her progress: sewage.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2026
America’s Global War on Terror has seen its share of stalemates, disasters, and outright defeats.
From Salon ● Nov. 16, 2023
The months subsequent were an endless dreary battle of paperwork, full of stalemates, fought in trenches.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
