standoff

A disagreement or confrontation in which neither side can win or move forward.

• The talks ended in a standoff.
• Police surrounded the house during an armed standoff.
• The standoff between management and workers lasted three weeks.

How to use it: a standoff between A and B (The standoff between the two countries continued.)

Similar words: deadlock, stalemate, impasse

Common phrases: standoff between sides, armed standoff, tense standoff

Designed to attack from far enough away to avoid the enemy’s defensive weapons.

• The aircraft carried a standoff missile.
• Standoff weapons allow attacks from beyond enemy defenses.
• The navy tested a new standoff system.

Common phrases: standoff weapon, standoff missile, standoff attack