gridlocked

adjective

grid·​locked ˈgrid-ˌläkt How to pronounce gridlocked (audio)
: affected by gridlock : brought to a state in which movement or progress is stopped completely
gridlocked streets
a gridlocked legislature
The Phoenix of 1996 has terrible air, gridlocked traffic, and spreads out in so many directions that it seems to lack any sense of order.Timothy Egan
… the notion of an incompetent, gridlocked government is still embedded in the national consciousness.Andrew Sullivan

Examples of gridlocked in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The extra federal subsidies put in place in 2021 that made coverage more affordable for millions of people will expire at the end of this year unless a gridlocked and idle Congress acts. ABC News, 28 Oct. 2025 Traffic also became gridlocked as crowds grew, according to police. Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025 Archie finally came home on July 15, with his parents making it through gridlocked L.A. traffic before settling in with pizza and a glass of wine. Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025 Air Taxi Egypt, a new offering from Abu Dhabi Aviation, will debut its services at the El Gouna Film Festival this week, ferrying passengers from Cairo to the resort town, and plans to open air routes in the gridlocked capital. Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gridlocked

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gridlocked was in 1980

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Cite this Entry

“Gridlocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gridlocked. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

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