lockjaw

noun

lock·jaw ˈläk-ˌjȯ

: an early symptom of tetanus characterized by spasm of the jaw muscles and inability to open the jaws

also : tetanus

Examples of lockjaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As long as one of them doesn't get lockjaw first. —

Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 15 Sep. 2021 The crushing muscles of mastication clamp down to form the hallmark of the disease, lockjaw. —

Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 29 Sep. 2015 Radziwill was also in the process of producing a documentary about her childhood memories at Lasata and hoping her eccentric aunt, with her Long Island lockjaw and beautiful singing voice, would narrate the film. —

Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 24 Aug. 2022 New environmental laws would be an even longer shot—none have passed since 1990 because of partisan lockjaw. —

Heather Hansman, Outside Online, 9 Jan. 2021 Week-long stays can, in select circumstances, feel more like confinement when the annoying uncle unleashes an onslaught of jokes that practically elicit lockjaw from the intensity of cringe. —

J.d. Simkins, Sunset Magazine, 27 Apr. 2022 This will require the financier to relax his lockjaw on the company, now that the firm will be held by a wider range of shareholders—while maintaining the discipline that has prevented Blackstone from blowing its money at the top of the cycle. —

The Economist, 29 June 2019 Has this crazy weather given the fish lockjaw in your favorite area? —

Todd Masson, NOLA.com, 11 Apr. 2018 The website also includes signs once used to warn people of diseases such as whooping cough and a set of forceps used to force open the jaws of people with tetanus, or lockjaw. —

Erin Blakemore, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2017 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lockjaw.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.