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
Here is why intersection crashes cause outsized gridlock, what officers are analyzing behind the tape, and how commuters can best adapt. — Jason Phillips, Ascend Agency, 23 July 2026 One aspect that contributed to the gridlock was a number of Waymo's self-driving robotaxis idling on the road as traffic officials tried to remedy the halt in traffic. — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 10 July 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
  • In the early months of 2020, American freight ground nearly to a halt.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Hormuz traffic grinds to a halt The president's latest remarks came after shipping traffic through the strait slowed nearly to a halt over the weekend.
    — Kevin Breuninger,Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of halt
Verb
  • Be sure to plan at least one evening on-property to catch the sunset, when the mountains are painted in shades of pink and purple before giving way to a sky filled with twinkling stars.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • His previous spell on the Bernabeu bench was filled with arguments and feuds, with the Portuguese angrily taking on referees, journalists, opposition coaches and even his own players.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of fill
Noun
  • The head-to-head deadlock will be broken Thursday night with the Canadian Open title up for grabs.
    — Lukas Weese, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • For Russia and Ukraine, the analogous deadlock concerns control over the Donbas.
    — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 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
  • Oil prices are hovering above $90 a barrel, as talks between Iran and the United States remain at an impasse.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • With this new evidence in hand, North Carolina’s legislators voted in July to continue the program, which was paused in the state’s budget impasse last year, scaling access to key drivers of savings and help close the gap in Medicaid state funding.
    — Kody Kinsley, STAT, 17 Aug. 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
  • Lawsuits were forced into a standstill as McDonnell refused to engage.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Public transportation and cultural events have come to a standstill.
    — Andrea Rodriguez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of standstill
Verb
  • The trucks wait until all those in the area are ready before traveling in convoys to packing plants, accompanied by police patrols to prevent robberies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Espi joins a Madrid squad packed with stars, including Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and headline summer signings such as Yan Diomande, who joined in a deal worth up to €140million.
    — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 16 Aug. 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 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of gridlock for Spanish Speakers

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