gridlock 1 of 2

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

Relevance

gridlock

2 of 2

verb

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
Their effort has been criticized as a road to gridlock while, in the aftermath instead, a summer of litigation and investigation of actions has played out. Alan Wooten | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Aug. 2024 Hitler exploited his 37% to gridlock legislative processes, to cudgel or crush the political opposition, and ultimately to undermine the country’s democratic structures. Timothy Ryback, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
Verb
Here are some tips from Rosenberg and other experts on how best to maintain your composure amid South Florida’s gridlock. Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2025 That gridlock is sapping a powerhouse central to the nation’s prosperity. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gridlock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gridlock
Noun
  • The complaint also seeks the halt of all work on the project, pending the investigation the petition seeks.
    Penny Weaver, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Instantly, traffic came to a halt on the busy corridor in Everett.
    Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • One side is crafted from 100 percent linen, and the reverse, 100 percent cotton, both of which are stitched to create an eye-catching bubble texture accentuated by the plush fiber filling between the layers.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Never mind that Coppola cast Mickey Rourke in the role — tough shoes to fill.
    Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Ceasefire talks ended in deadlock in July.
    Emily Rose, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • On June 30, three months into the standoff, the Missouri Senate Insurance and Banking Committee called the two sides in for a hearing that broke months of deadlock and prompted new proposals from Anthem.
    Bram Sable-Smith, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Carlin Karr, director of wine and beverage at Stuckey’s restaurants — including Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-winning Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder — believes roughly 1 in 10 wine bottles are off in taste, or corked.
    Jeremy Harlan, CNN Money, 16 July 2025
  • Public opposition to the fee helped cork the proposal.
    Sarah Scoles, JSTOR Daily, 11 June 2025
Noun
  • Maybe Tom noticed the group was still at an impasse with three minutes to go.
    Tessa West, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
  • The impasse got the attention of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who expressed impatience with it even though his agency does not have jurisdiction in carriage disputes.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • Historically, the region itself was created by the natural flooding and silting processes of the Mississippi River, which flows across the breadth of the state before spilling into the Gulf of America.
    David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • When the pandemic arrived, an entire world was brought to a standstill.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Both commanded the respect of a standstill, silence, salutes, and honor.
    Paula Pedene, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This powder comes in a few delicious flavors—unflavored, strawberry lemon, vanilla, and chocolate—and is packed with vitamin C, which can support collagen synthesis to further boost effectiveness, according to Fazio.
    Brianna Peters, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2025
  • But outgoing Milwaukee Symphony Music Director Ken-David Masur has packed his concluding season here with major choral works to show off the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus in its 50th year.
    Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gridlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gridlock. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gridlock

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!