Deadlock: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe a situation where two opposing sides are unable to make progress or reach an agreement, often implying a conflict that could be resolved with negotiation.

• Negotiations reached a deadlock after neither side was willing to compromise.
• The debate ended in a deadlock, with no solution in sight.

Used to describe a situation where everything has come to a complete stop, often due to an external factor or disruption rather than internal conflict.

• The traffic came to a standstill due to the accident on the highway.
• The production line is at a standstill because of the machine breakdown.

Refers to a situation where progress is impossible due to disagreement or a lack of feasible solutions, often used in formal or critical contexts.

• We have reached an impasse in our discussions and need to rethink our approach.
• The project came to an impasse due to budget constraints.

Commonly used in chess to refer to a situation where no moves are possible without putting the king in check, it can also describe any situation where no progress can be made, often in strategic or competitive contexts.

• The negotiations have resulted in a stalemate, with neither party willing to budge.
• The game ended in a stalemate, with both teams evenly matched.

Deadlock is used when two parties or groups cannot move forward due to a complete standstill that results from opposing views or actions. This is common in negotiations, decision-making processes, or competitions.

• The negotiations between the two countries have reached a deadlock.
• The jury was in a deadlock because they couldn't agree on a verdict.

Gridlock refers to complete traffic congestion where vehicles can't move in any direction. It is commonly used in urban settings related to traffic jams.

• The city center always experiences gridlock during rush hour.
• An accident on the freeway has caused gridlock for miles.

Dead end describes a situation where no progress can be made, and there is no potential for advancement. It is often used in contexts like careers, projects, or physical roads.

• After five years in the job, she felt she was at a dead end.
• Turn back the car, we’ve hit a dead end street.

Logjam is used for situations where progress is hindered by a large amount of work or problems that have piled up. It can be applied to legislative processes, office workloads, or logistical issues.

• The new policies aim to break the legislative logjam in Congress.
• There is a logjam of paperwork on my desk that needs to be addressed.