stale·mate 
/ˈsteɪlˌmeɪt/ noun
plural stale·mates /ˈsteɪlˌmeɪt/ noun 1 : a contest, dispute, competition, etc., in which neither side can gain an advantage or win [count] ▪ The budget debate ended in a stalemate. ▪ The new agreement could break the stalemate. [noncount] ▪ The budget debate ended in stalemate. 2 [count, noncount] : a situation in chess in which a player cannot successfully move any of the pieces and neither player can win
▪ The game ended in (a) stalemate. — compare checkmate
▪ The game ended in (a) stalemate. — compare checkmate
— stalemate verb, stalemates; stalemat·ed; stalemat·ing [+ obj]
▪ He was stalemated by the opposition.
▪ He was stalemated by the opposition.
