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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Recent Examples of deadlock
Twice in recent years, the board spent months facing regular partisan deadlocks — first after Nathan Fletcher resigned in 2023 and again after Nora Vargas left office early this year.
—
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
Minnesota finally broke the deadlock early in the second via a pretty individual play by Tarasenko.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
Luckily for Fox, what seemed like an existential deadlock turned out to be just another day on the moviemaking grind.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Congress has been in a deadlock since the start of the month as Democrats refuse to sign off on a budget that doesn’t include health insurance subsidies for people who buy plans on the open market.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadlock
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
Minnesota finally broke the deadlock early in the second via a pretty individual play by Tarasenko.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
Luckily for Fox, what seemed like an existential deadlock turned out to be just another day on the moviemaking grind.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Congress has been in a deadlock since the start of the month as Democrats refuse to sign off on a budget that doesn’t include health insurance subsidies for people who buy plans on the open market.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadlock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadlock
Noun
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That drought came to a halt Saturday when Thayer defensive back Jack Sullivan intercepted Governor’s quarterback Aiden Bly, preserving a 16-14 victory in enemy territory.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
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But both companies have since put a halt to those plans.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These subsidies, which are critical to people with chronic illnesses such as cancer, are one of the main sticking points in the current budget impasse in Congress.—
Noam Levey,
NPR,
21 Oct. 2025
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Oklahoma's governor wants to settle the federal lawsuit over pollution of the Illinois River, saying his state's attorney general and the defendant Northwest Arkansas poultry companies are at an impasse, according to a court motion filed Friday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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What To Know Newsom's announcement Wednesday came as the federal government shutdown entered its fourth week, with Republicans and Democrats in Congress still at a stalemate over how to reopen the government, bring back federal workers, and restart services.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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The federal government shutdown has continued for 22 days amid a stalemate between Democrats and Republicans in Congress.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deadlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadlock. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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