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
But the deadlock between the two parties has survived it all.
—
David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
But Atalanta broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when Gianluca Scamacca’s effort found a way past Kelleher.
—Ben Church, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
The deadlock extends to the Israel-Lebanon border, where Israel continues to exchange missile fire with Hezbollah.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Partisan deadlock is one structural impediment to a sudden authoritarian breakthrough; so are the anti-democratic filibuster, the sclerotic two-party system, and the lamentably high bar to amending the Constitution.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2024
When Edmond survived the tie with Poway that was settled by criteria at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dual Classic, its tangle with national No. 1 Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) ended in a deadlock decided by criteria, too.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2024
This two-year political deadlock came to an end in February.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
With Cummings at his side, along with Lee Cain, another former Vote Leave official, who became his director of communications, Johnson broke the deadlock that had existed since the referendum.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Targeting Russia’s Oil Industry: With its army short of ammunition and troops to break the deadlock on the battlefield, Kyiv has increasingly taken the fight beyond the Ukrainian border, attacking oil infrastructure deep in Russian territory.
—Maria Varenikova, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
But Atalanta broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when Gianluca Scamacca’s effort found a way past Kelleher.
—Ben Church, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
The deadlock extends to the Israel-Lebanon border, where Israel continues to exchange missile fire with Hezbollah.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Partisan deadlock is one structural impediment to a sudden authoritarian breakthrough; so are the anti-democratic filibuster, the sclerotic two-party system, and the lamentably high bar to amending the Constitution.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2024
When Edmond survived the tie with Poway that was settled by criteria at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dual Classic, its tangle with national No. 1 Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) ended in a deadlock decided by criteria, too.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2024
This two-year political deadlock came to an end in February.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
With Cummings at his side, along with Lee Cain, another former Vote Leave official, who became his director of communications, Johnson broke the deadlock that had existed since the referendum.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Targeting Russia’s Oil Industry: With its army short of ammunition and troops to break the deadlock on the battlefield, Kyiv has increasingly taken the fight beyond the Ukrainian border, attacking oil infrastructure deep in Russian territory.
—Maria Varenikova, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
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 16 Apr. 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
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