tie-breaker
Overtime deciding round
A tie-breaker is something that decides a winner when competitors are even.
In sports, it may be an extra period, a sudden-death point, or a specific scoring rule: The match went to a tie-breaker in the final set.
In elections or votes, a tie-breaker might be a casting vote or runoff.
Anything that resolves a deadlock can be called a tie-breaker: Her experience was the tie-breaker in the hiring decision.
Work beyond scheduled hours
- extra-inningsTiebreaking baseball periods
- playoffsChampionship elimination series
- tiebreakMethod to resolve draws
- deucePair on dice
advantage · shootout · replays · knockout · elimination · finals · championship
Quick to conclude
- clinchSettle beyond doubt
- settleReach final terms
- finalLast and decisive
- verdictOfficial court decision
ruling · judgment · outcome · result · resolution · determination · conclusive · definitive
Non-court binding dispute resolution
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
compromise · agreement · peacemaking · reconciliation · adjudication · intervention · third-party
overtime
Work beyond scheduled hours
- extra-inningsTiebreaking baseball periods
- playoffsChampionship elimination series
- tiebreakMethod to resolve draws
deuce · advantage · shootout · replays · knockout · elimination · finals · championship
decisive
Quick to conclude
verdict · ruling · judgment · outcome · result · resolution · determination · conclusive · definitive · determining
arbitration
Non-court binding dispute resolution
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
negotiation · compromise · agreement · peacemaking · reconciliation · adjudication · intervention · third-party
stalemate
Mutual obstruction preventing progress
- impasseSituation without resolution
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
draw · parity · logjam · standstill · halt · even · blockage · bottleneck · quagmire · morass
- track and fieldtrack and field, sprinters, sprinter, sprinting, sprint
- quiz showstrivia, quizmaster, host, contestants, buzzers
- sports rulesrulebook, violations, volleyball rules, rules, offside
- Down to the Wirelast minute, nail-biter, photo finish, close call, eleventh hour
- legislative votesyea, nay, aye, ayes, nays