deadlock

noun

ˈded-ˌläk How to pronounce deadlock (audio)
Definition of deadlocknext
as in halt
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in the jury sent a note to the judge that it was hopelessly stuck in a deadlock

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deadlock The jury’s deadlock on McClain’s charges may give rise to another round of excuses to do nothing. — Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025 The Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter declared a mistrial on Osborn’s charges due to the jury’s deadlock. — Charna Flam, People.com, 5 Feb. 2025 TikTok's restoration signals a potential shift toward resolving the deadlock between policymakers and the company, although its future remains uncertain. — David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025 Yoon's government has been at a deadlock since assuming power in 2022 due to the opposition's continuous impeachment attempts targeting key members of his administration. — Joohee Cho, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for deadlock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadlock
  1. halt
  2. impasse
  3. stalemate
Noun
  • His term began with large-scale immigration raids, a halt to asylum processing for undocumented migrants, and executive orders aimed at expanding the authority of ICE to arrest and detain those in the country illegally.
    — Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
  • But his career came to a screeching halt later that year.
    — Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of halt
Noun
  • Now the Comcast impasse threatens to keep the White Sox off the air on the largest pay-TV provider in the Chicago market, a potentially devastating blow to the fans, the team and the new regional sports network.
    — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Germany’s political and economic impasse need not result in a future defined by the far right.
    — Liana Fix, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2025
Definition of impasse
Noun
  • As the stalemate continued, the city filed a lawsuit against hotel ownership seeking $5 million in damages, ultimately leading to a settlement in November that cleared the way for the building’s demise.
    — Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Some temporary stalemates are fully resolved over time—consider Germany, which reunified in 1990, four decades after its division.
    — G. John Ikenberry, Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of stalemate

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“Deadlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadlock. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deadlock

Nglish: Translation of deadlock for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about deadlock

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