1
: a state of inaction or neutralization resulting from the opposition of equally powerful uncompromising persons or factions : standstill
the deadlock was broken with a key compromise
2
: a tie score
deadlock
verb
Synonyms
Examples of deadlock in a Sentence
City councilors reached a deadlock over the law.
His goal broke a 3–3 deadlock.
Recent Examples on the Web
By the time Peter Vidmar stepped up to the high bar as the final U.S. performer on the last of the six apparatus rotations, the Americans had already broken the first-place deadlock with the Chinese and secured their spot atop the medal podium.
—
Dominic Faria, Ethan Ferguson, Akshat Jain, Annabelle Del Bosque, USA TODAY, 17 July 2024
Sunday’s election produced no outright legislative majority, meaning the country is poised for deadlock, political instability and, possibly, outright dysfunction for the remaining three years of Macron’s second and final term in office.
—Lee Hockstader, Washington Post, 8 July 2024
Republicans dissent The fines may have been delayed by the 2-2 partisan deadlock the commission operated under until September 2023.
—Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 29 Apr. 2024
Into the wee hours of Monday, long after the last late-summer evening light had left the sky, there was widespread rejoicing — but already, a dawning sense of the deadlock and instability that will almost surely follow the divided result.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for deadlock 
Dominic Faria, Ethan Ferguson, Akshat Jain, Annabelle Del Bosque, USA TODAY, 17 July 2024
Sunday’s election produced no outright legislative majority, meaning the country is poised for deadlock, political instability and, possibly, outright dysfunction for the remaining three years of Macron’s second and final term in office.
—Lee Hockstader, Washington Post, 8 July 2024
Republicans dissent The fines may have been delayed by the 2-2 partisan deadlock the commission operated under until September 2023.
—Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 29 Apr. 2024
Into the wee hours of Monday, long after the last late-summer evening light had left the sky, there was widespread rejoicing — but already, a dawning sense of the deadlock and instability that will almost surely follow the divided result.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for deadlock
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deadlock.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near deadlock
Cite this Entry
“Deadlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deadlock. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deadlock
noun
dead·lock
-ˌläk 
: a stopping of action because both sides in a struggle are equally powerful and neither will give in
deadlock
verb
Legal Definition
deadlock
noun
dead·lock
ˈded-ˌläk
: a state of inaction resulting from the opposition of equally powerful uncompromising persons or factions: as
a
: the state of a jury unable to agree on a verdict see also allen charge
b
: impasse
c
: a state in which corporate directors are unable to perform their functions because of shareholder voting
deadlock
verb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share