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gridlock 1 of 2

noun

ˈgrid-ˌläk How to pronounce gridlock (audio)
Definition of gridlocknext
as in halt
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in with the White House controlled by one party and Congress by the other, the nation experienced four years of legislative gridlock

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gridlock

2 of 2

verb

as in to fill

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Dissimilar Words

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 gridlock
Noun
The legislation would break nearly two years of relative gridlock on the issue following a 2024 emergency aid package. — Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 2026 Residents have increasing concerns about the gridlock that comes with heavy traffic on Harbor or the freeway, especially in an emergency such as a wildfire that requires residents to leave quickly. — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
Waymo's vehicles contributed to gridlock during storms and widespread power outages in San Francisco last month. — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2026 Waiting until the last minute can lead to gridlock on the road for you and obstruct first responders trying to get to the active fire zone. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gridlock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gridlock
  1. halt
  2. fill
  3. deadlock
  4. cork
  5. impasse
  6. silt
  7. standstill
  8. pack
Noun
  • And yet that life seems to have come to a halt for Elif, a respected poet who’s been stuck in a rut for a long time.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a halt on all environmental permits for data centers.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of halt
Verb
  • Between the pools, the beach, and the restaurant lineup, most guests could fill a week without stepping off property.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Hundreds of British troops crisscrossed fields with thousands of metres of razor wire and dug a long ditch that was later partially filled with water to act as a moat to keep the Protestant marchers away from the Catholic enclave.
    — Amanda Ferguson Reuters, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of fill
Noun
  • Meanwhile, as the political deadlock shows no signs of resolution, Serbian industry professionals worry about the consequences that their silencing will have on society at large.
    — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Lake Forest junior Sam Florjancic and Libertyville senior Austin Scott capitalized with birdies on their final holes to create a three-man deadlock at the top of the leaderboard.
    — Harris Horowitz, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of deadlock
Verb
  • Web-like striations or corking on jalapeño skins occur when plants are stressed by irregular watering, dry soil, or high heat.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2026
  • Peppers with smooth skins will be less hot than peppers that display corking.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2026
Definition of cork
Noun
  • That impasse turned ugly, and truth be told, the relationship was never the same between Johansen and management.
    — Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The unsanctioned parades of cars decked out in Mexican flags have previously led to major traffic jams and impasses for emergency vehicles.
    — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of impasse
Verb
  • But the estuary, which had been silting up since the 11th century, had different ideas.
    — Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Mar. 2026
  • The rock was originally silt on the seafloor that, it's argued, hosted early microbial life that was buried by more silt, leaving the carbon as their remains.
    — Howard Lee, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2025
Definition of silt
Noun
  • But as those reports circulated, and concern mounted over the business reaching a standstill as the parties to the suit waited for a trial date, several major Hollywood players began pushing for a settlement.
    — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Unleaded gas has not fallen below $2 since the 2020 Covid pandemic, which brought the global economy to a near standstill for months.
    — Jason Abbruzzese, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of standstill
Verb
  • Wash it all down with a couple of Wet Martinis, one of the prepared vermouths that packs a punch thanks to the sharp splash of orange bitters.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Katadyn Befree Water Filter Bottle This may sound like an obvious tip, but Jackson advises even day hikers to pack a water purification system.
    — Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of pack

Browse Nearby Words

griddle cakes
gridlock
gridlocked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gridlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gridlock. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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