checkmate
No escape remains
Checkmate is the winning position in chess—when a king is under attack and has no legal move to escape.
The game ends immediately.
Outside chess, checkmate means a situation of complete defeat with no way out: The scandal left the politician in checkmate.
As a verb, to checkmate is to put someone in this position, literally or figuratively.
Mutual obstruction preventing progress
- checkOrder to pay
- grandmasterSupreme competitive title
- kingMale crowned ruler
- queenMost powerful chess piece
rook · bishop · knight · pawn · castle · en passant · zugzwang · pin
Certain to occur
- inescapableImpossible to avoid
- certainFree from doubt
- unavoidableImpossible to prevent
- conclusiveEnding all debate
decisive · no escape · cornered · endgame · closing in · sealed fate · game over · point of no return
Device for catching animals
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- setupHow something is arranged
- combinationJoining of multiple elements
calculated · maneuvering · tactical · decoy · deflection · overloading · brilliancy
stalemate
Mutual obstruction preventing progress
- checkOrder to pay
- grandmasterSupreme competitive title
- kingMale crowned ruler
queen · rook · bishop · knight · pawn · castle · en passant · zugzwang · pin · fork
inevitable
Certain to occur
- inescapableImpossible to avoid
- certainFree from doubt
- unavoidableImpossible to prevent
conclusive · decisive · no escape · cornered · endgame · closing in · sealed fate · game over · point of no return · last move
trap
Device for catching animals
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- setupHow something is arranged
combination · calculated · maneuvering · tactical · decoy · deflection · overloading · brilliancy
vanquish
Defeat thoroughly in conflict
outmaneuver · outplay · dominate · overwhelm · crush · rout · prevail · subdue · overthrow · best
- Braggingbrag, gloat, show off, flex, swagger
- Nailed Itnailed it, crushed it, aced it, slam dunk, hole in one
- surrendersurrender, surrenders, surrendering, I surrender, capitulate
- tacticsmaneuver, counter-attack, gambit, ambush, counterstrike
- sports winsknockout, upset, blowout, shutout, sweep
- Winning Movesmasterstroke, coup, winning move, game-winner, clutch play