1
: a state of inaction or neutralization resulting from the opposition of equally powerful uncompromising persons or factions : standstill
the deadlock was broken with a key compromise
2
: a tie score
deadlock
verb
Examples of deadlock in a Sentence
City councilors reached a deadlock over the law.
His goal broke a 3–3 deadlock.
Recent Examples on the Web
But ultimately the world's most important central bank still faces a political deadlock, said DealBook in The New York Times.
—
The Week Uk, TheWeek, 26 Apr. 2026
With a new, major contemporary art museum, Kanal-Pompidou, due to open in November; a coalition regional government that finally formed after 600 days of deadlock; and a competitive 6 percent VAT on art sales that went into effect at the end of 2025, the moment for that experimentation seems ripe.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Republicans hold a 12–10 edge on the committee, which means Tillis’s single vote is enough to create an 11–11 deadlock and keep the nomination frozen.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
The European Union on Thursday approved a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) loan package to help Ukraine meet its economic and military needs for two years after oil began flowing through a key pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia, ending months of political deadlock.
—Karel Janicek, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deadlock
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The Week Uk, TheWeek, 26 Apr. 2026
With a new, major contemporary art museum, Kanal-Pompidou, due to open in November; a coalition regional government that finally formed after 600 days of deadlock; and a competitive 6 percent VAT on art sales that went into effect at the end of 2025, the moment for that experimentation seems ripe.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Republicans hold a 12–10 edge on the committee, which means Tillis’s single vote is enough to create an 11–11 deadlock and keep the nomination frozen.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
The European Union on Thursday approved a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) loan package to help Ukraine meet its economic and military needs for two years after oil began flowing through a key pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia, ending months of political deadlock.
—Karel Janicek, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deadlock
Cite this Entry
“Deadlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deadlock. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deadlock
noun
dead·lock
-ˌläk 
: a stopping of action because both sides in a struggle are equally powerful and neither will give in
deadlock
verb
Legal Definition
deadlock
noun
dead·lock
ˈded-ˌläk
: a state of inaction resulting from the opposition of equally powerful uncompromising persons or factions: as
a
: the state of a jury unable to agree on a verdict see also allen charge
b
: impasse
c
: a state in which corporate directors are unable to perform their functions because of shareholder voting
deadlock
verb
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