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 Fresh proposal Araghchi’s meeting with Witkoff to restart talks was an attempt to break three months of diplomatic deadlock. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, as the political deadlock shows no signs of resolution, Serbian industry professionals worry about the consequences that their silencing will have on society at large. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026 Lake Forest junior Sam Florjancic and Libertyville senior Austin Scott capitalized with birdies on their final holes to create a three-man deadlock at the top of the leaderboard. — Harris Horowitz, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026 Oil prices rose above $100 a barrel on the US-Iran geopolitical deadlock. — Chloé Farand, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deadlock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadlock
Noun
  • But for a stock that hit a screeching halt just three months ago when the blow-up of hedge fund Situational Awareness sent a chill through the AI bull market, a more measured rally might be just what traders want.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
  • And yet that life seems to have come to a halt for Elif, a respected poet who’s been stuck in a rut for a long time.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The impasse dates back to summer 2023, when the City Council bifurcated the new collective bargaining agreement with the FOP.
    — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • But discussions reached an impasse earlier this month, according to a statement shared on Monday by the Indigenous Conservation Council of the Chesapeake Bay, a consortium of all seven tribes, at a program committee meeting.
    — Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Rubio has led back-channel talks with Raúl Castro’s grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, but Cuban officials say talks with the administration are at a stalemate.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The two foes are locked in a stalemate months into the conflict, particularly over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for the world's oil and gas.
    — Tucker Reals, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Deadlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadlock. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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