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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
If Democrats take even one chamber of Congress, that will translate into gridlock in Washington, where a Republican White House wields veto power over any assertive legislation, which would reassure the tech industry. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 Merkley is the Senate’s resident rules expert and has literally written the book on Senate gridlock. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 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
  • Ideally, a reciprocal halt in long-range air and missile attacks could then be replicated across other sectors—maritime, commercial, and transportation—thus forming the basis of a broader aerial cease-fire.
    — Eric Ciaramella, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2026
  • President Iliana Yotova called for an immediate halt to hostilities in the Black Sea and a moratorium on drone attacks against commercial and civilian infrastructure, following the latest drone attacks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of halt
Verb
  • Tear gas filled the area, and Nathaniel saw two attackers in the back of a pickup with automatic weapons.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Richards signed a nonguaranteed one-year deal in late August to fill the 14th spot on the Heat’s standard roster.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of fill
Noun
  • 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
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
  • Still, after months of often contentious dialogue with government officials, local producers are grateful that both sides have found a way through the impasse.
    — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • After more than a year of negotiations and a proposal from the CSU to increase salaries by 3%, the California Faculty Association — which represents about 29,000 professors, lecturers, librarians, counselors and coaches — declared impasse in July.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 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
  • Videos on social media showed traffic at a standstill on a highway leading out of Gulf Shores, where double-red beach flags signaled water access was closed.
    — R.J. Rico, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The union, Union Syndicale Lycéenne, said 2,000 high schools were at a standstill and all universities were mobilized amid the protests by students, parents and teachers against poor school conditions.
    — News Editor, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of standstill
Verb
  • Platforms are increasingly using unskippable 30-second TV-style ads, while numerous creator videos are packed with sponsor segments, product placements and pitches.
    — William Daddi, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The nearby Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters, however, was packed with customers as owners had purchased a generator in hopes of avoiding future business closures.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of pack

Browse Nearby Words

griddle cakes
gridlock
gridlocked
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Cite this Entry

“Gridlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gridlock. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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