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
That lead did not last, as Hagans created another deadlock just 44 seconds before the break, scoring from between the circles to forge a 4-4 tie after two stanzas of play.
—
Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 30 Dec. 2025
Still, expectations persist that there will be something new for the duo to say Sunday, after years of deadlock and over a million dead.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 28 Dec. 2025
This year, the enhanced subsidies that helped middle-income people afford Obamacare plans have been stuck in partisan congressional deadlock.
—Peter Whoriskey The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 22 Dec. 2025
Chances are increasing that Obamacare subsidies will expire at the end of the month and trigger a spike in health insurance premiums as a deadlock in Congress deepens on the issue.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadlock
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Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 30 Dec. 2025
Still, expectations persist that there will be something new for the duo to say Sunday, after years of deadlock and over a million dead.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 28 Dec. 2025
This year, the enhanced subsidies that helped middle-income people afford Obamacare plans have been stuck in partisan congressional deadlock.
—Peter Whoriskey The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 22 Dec. 2025
Chances are increasing that Obamacare subsidies will expire at the end of the month and trigger a spike in health insurance premiums as a deadlock in Congress deepens on the issue.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadlock
Cite this Entry
“Deadlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deadlock. Accessed 8 Jan. 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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