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

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
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 The 21st Century Road to Housing Act was a striking bipartisan win in a legislative body that has been defined by partisan gridlock. Jack Harvel july 10, Kansas City Star, 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
Noun
  • Instead, the Israeli leader’s silence was accompanied by a sharp increase in airstrikes over the weekend which killed 28 people in the enclave – the deadliest toll in weeks – even though the agreement specifically called for a halt to attacks.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The halt happened at the request of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran.
    Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The question is whether the people who filled it out can get a copy.
    Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • It's filled with design-centric knick-knacks for your artsy friend.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The retrials resulted in a hung jury and a deadlock, respectively.
    Eleanor Jacobs, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
  • The deadlock was broken within five minutes when striker Haley Hopkins pounced on a shot by teammate Lo’eau LaBonta that was deflected.
    Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
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
Noun
  • Despite this impasse, Real Madrid remains optimistic about securing the 19-year-old Ivory Coast star.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Oman’s efforts to end the Strait of Hormuz impasse center on a key section of international maritime law, one whose application is opposed by both Iran and the West — for different reasons.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 31 July 2026
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
Noun
  • Starting the Blackbird from a standstill is a stark departure from modern, electronic hypercars.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Aug. 2026
  • After a standstill that lasted several days, Madrid made progress over the weekend with RB Leipzig regarding the signing of 19-year-old Diomande.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Preparing lunch together can also become a lesson in practical problem-solving, like figuring out which ingredients are better packed separately to avoid a soggy sandwich surprise.
    Sierra Leone Starks, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
  • In the morning, Green helped Beloozerov shave his head and packed his clothes in a plastic tote.
    Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gridlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gridlock. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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