gridlocks 1 of 2

noun

plural of gridlock
as in halts
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

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gridlocks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of gridlock
as in fills

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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 gridlocks
Noun
Nairobi's street acrobats first began appearing in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they have since become normalized at traffic stops in and around the city, with acrobats taking advantage of gridlocks to perform in exchange for cash tips. — ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gridlocks
  1. halts
  2. fills
  3. deadlocks
  4. congests
  5. logjams
  6. packs
Noun
  • That was March 2020, when the CEOs of General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler tried to coordinate production halts over Covid-19 fears, only to be warned by their lawyers that doing so could violate antitrust rules.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The automatic stay halts proceedings but doesn't compel creditors to undo pre-petition filings without operative effect.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Definition of halts
Verb
  • Hotels turn to down-alternative fills like microfiber for similar plushness without the feathers.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Sign Up for Our Free Daily Newsletter The distinct, earthy smell that fills the air after rain following a long dry spell can trigger some serious nostalgia.
    — Gregory Wakeman, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of fills
Noun
  • Disputes within legislatures sometimes led to deadlocks, and many states opted to select senators in partisan primaries or a general election.
    — Christopher A. Cooper, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The reforms center on breaking veto-heavy decision deadlocks, bringing poorer economies into global supply chains, cracking down on unfair state subsidies and rewriting outdated 20th-century trade rules.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of deadlocks
Verb
  • The competition congests the calendar and adds to the impression that there is too much football.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of congests
Noun
  • There could be intense competition for backup minutes with logjams at multiple positions.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The Russian strikes forcing the full or partial closure of three of Kyiv's six road bridges caused traffic logjams and appeared to be a new tactic in its campaign to torment the city's residents.
    — HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of logjams
Verb
  • Utilizing the format’s high resolution and depth of field, the director packs his compositions but doesn’t dictate where the audience’s eye should go.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The towering megarocket stands at nearly 400 feet (121 meters) tall and, with the debut of Version 3, packs around 18 million pounds of force at liftoff.
    — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of packs

Browse Nearby Words

gridlocking
gridlocks
grief
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Cite this Entry

“Gridlocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gridlocks. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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