deadlock

as in halt
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in the jury sent a note to the judge that it was hopelessly stuck in a deadlock

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of deadlock Senate Majority Leader John Thune told Semafor that GOP leaders are considering whether to offer Democrats a future vote on extending health care subsidies as a bid to end the deadlock on the government shutdown. Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025 The boos started cascading from the rafters of Citizens Bank Park in the seventh inning of Game 2 Monday night when the Dodgers scored four times to break a deadlock and take a 4-0 lead. Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2025 But something will have to give if lawmakers hope to reopen the government in any timely fashion, and that movement will likely be the result of external forces exerting pressure on one party — or both of them — to break the deadlock. Mike Lillis, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025 The deadlock leaves Congress and the federal government in limbo. Nik Popli, Time, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deadlock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadlock
Noun
  • That drought came to a halt Saturday when Thayer defensive back Jack Sullivan intercepted Governor’s quarterback Aiden Bly, preserving a 16-14 victory in enemy territory.
    Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
  • But both companies have since put a halt to those plans.
    Susan Tompor, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • These subsidies, which are critical to people with chronic illnesses such as cancer, are one of the main sticking points in the current budget impasse in Congress.
    Noam Levey, NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Oklahoma's governor wants to settle the federal lawsuit over pollution of the Illinois River, saying his state's attorney general and the defendant Northwest Arkansas poultry companies are at an impasse, according to a court motion filed Friday.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Gringlas says even if the impacts of the shutdown do become more severe, an end to the stalemate may not arrive soon.
    NPR, NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Legislators have been at a stalemate over expiring healthcare funding and tax credits for the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, USA TODAY reported.
    Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 15 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deadlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadlock. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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