: 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
And The Golden Key goes to … Rachel, who gave herself lockjaw before the Fantasy Suites by jumping into a cenote and hitting her head?
—
Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2024
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
Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2024
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
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.
Articles Related to lockjaw
Dictionary Entries Near lockjaw
Cite this Entry
“Lockjaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lockjaw. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lockjaw
noun
lock·jaw
ˈläk-ˌjȯ 
: a symptom of tetanus marked by spasms of the jaw muscles and inability to open the jaws
also
: tetanus sense 1
Medical Definition
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 sense 1a
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share