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gridlocked

gridlocked

1 4.6
Unable to move because of very heavy traffic
  • adjective
  • /ˈɡrɪdˌlɑkt/
translation icon : bloqueado
  • She was late to the meeting because her car was stuck in gridlocked traffic for over an hour.
  • gridlocked traffic
  • gridlocked cars

Examples

  • EXT. GRIDLOCKED STREETS.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The gridlocked cars have nowhere to run as the wall of destruction grows out from downtown.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Given the age and stage of the woman in the gridlocked car, that "just past noon" business in "Freeze Frame" strikes me as obvious to the point of heavy-handedness.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • So it's no surprise that Woodbury claims the Tango can travel two abreast in a traffic lane, safely switch lanes through small gaps, glide through gridlocked traffic, and at 39 inches wide, park four to a space.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Seat-belted in her gridlocked and overheating Subaru, the protagonist of "Freeze Frame" is moving from St. Louis's Gateway Arch toward University City at a velocity, alas, of zero miles per hour.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • During rush hour, the highways are often gridlocked, making travel nearly impossible.

  • Residents frequently complain about gridlocked streets during the weekend market hours.

Synonyms

stuck
vsgridlocked
1.0

Not able to move because something holds or traps you

is a traffic standstill caused by general congestion not trapping
to backed up
vsgridlocked
29 3.3

Not moving or moving slowly because something is blocking it

is a severe traffic standstill rather than just a delay
congested
vsgridlocked
14 4.4

Too full to allow movement, for example during heavy traffic

is about a complete stop caused by severe traffic
clogged
vsgridlocked
6 2.8

Stopped from moving or flowing because something is blocking it

is mainly for severe traffic jams from many stopped vehicles
deadlocked
vsgridlocked
6.6

A situation where two sides cannot agree so nothing moves forward

is a traffic jam caused by heavy congestion not opposing forces
blocked
vsgridlocked
1.7

Closed so nothing can pass through, for example a nose or road

is commonly used for traffic jams caused by heavy congestion

Antonyms

81 2.7

Able to change or move easily

7 6.1

Able to continue without being stopped

How Blocked

gridlocked
1 4.6
congested
14 4.4
slow-moving
17 2.3
clear
866 1.0

Surface Forms

gridlocked positive

Morphology

gridlocked = gridlock (semi-transparent) = grid + lock + ed

Adding '-ed' to 'gridlock' to form an adjective/participial adjective meaning 'in a state of gridlock' is a regular, clearly productive derivation.

Etymology

Gridlocked comes from grid (a network of streets) and lock ('to close' or 'make unable to move'). Imagine a city's street grid where every crossing is 'locked' and cars cannot move — that picture explains why it means a traffic jam where nothing can go anywhere.