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
With less than two weeks to go before the election, recent polls have suggested that the presidential race is essentially in a deadlock, with both Harris and Trump at comparably small margins.
—
Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 Oct. 2024
In 1996, three years after their first trial ended in a deadlock, the siblings were convicted of the first-degree murders and subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024
And the government has been in political deadlock for months, with the parliament failing to elect a president 12 times.
—Carmen Sesin, NBC News, 26 Sep. 2024
While Trump-Vance is running circles around Harris-Walz in terms of press engagement, polling shows that the pair are in a national deadlock, with Trump leading Harris by just 47% to 46% as well as being neck-and-neck in all seven swing states.
—Elaine Mallon, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deadlock 
Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 Oct. 2024
In 1996, three years after their first trial ended in a deadlock, the siblings were convicted of the first-degree murders and subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024
And the government has been in political deadlock for months, with the parliament failing to elect a president 12 times.
—Carmen Sesin, NBC News, 26 Sep. 2024
While Trump-Vance is running circles around Harris-Walz in terms of press engagement, polling shows that the pair are in a national deadlock, with Trump leading Harris by just 47% to 46% as well as being neck-and-neck in all seven swing states.
—Elaine Mallon, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 Sep. 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 4 Nov. 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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