Thesaurus results for DEADLOCK

deadlock

noun

ˈded-ˌläk

Definition of 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 The country is dealing with a growing debt crisis, a budget deadlock, and widespread protests. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026 The most likely outcome of the upcoming elections, Levy said, would be some form of deadlock, in which case Netanyahu would continue serving as caretaker prime minister until a new government is sworn in. — Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Or there could be a deadlock and yet another election next year. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026 The French government, which is mired in political deadlock ahead of the country's presidential elections next spring, has yet to show protesters any meaningful concessions. — News Editor, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deadlock

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadlock

Noun

No bigger than a microwave oven, Idefix will plop onto Phobos by itself, bouncing for several minutes before coming to a halt in the moon's extraordinarily low gravity.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
The sharp decline earlier this year in software stocks ground dealmaking in the sector to a halt, as CEOs were reluctant to sell at the bottom and private-equity firms struggled to raise the debt.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of halt

Noun

An impasse was called in early September, in part, after SEIU Local 1000 expressed frustrations about mass proposal rejections.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
The first gallery presents Krasner’s collage works from the mid 1950s, when Pollock was at an artistic impasse and spiraling out of control.

— John Yau, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of impasse

Noun

His critics see a president who failed to tame inflation and keep America out of overseas conflicts, and whose agenda has fueled higher prices as the war with Iran appears to be at a stalemate.

— JOSH BOAK, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
In 2022, with front lines in a stalemate, Saudi Arabia and the Houthis signed a truce that largely held.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of stalemate

Browse Nearby Words

dead heats

deadlock

deadlocked

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“Deadlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadlock. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of deadlock

noun

Example Sentences

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