Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
⛔ No progress 🚗 Blocked by traffic
gridlocked

gridlocked

1 6.5
Unable to make progress because opposing sides block each other
  • adjective
  • /ˈɡrɪdˌlɑkt/
translation icon : estancado
  • Given the political realities of the bailouts and stimulus, why on earth would presidential candidates of both parties and a normally gridlocked government acquiesce to the emergency policies?
  • gridlocked Congress

Examples

  • The new leaders may also be too gridlocked or consensus-minded to get anything done.

    Blog text (32)

  • Congress was too gridlocked for too long.

  • Washington is a gridlocked mess.

    Blog text (26)

  • Congress is completely ineffective and gridlocked.

    Blog text (21)

  • But a gridlocked, polarized Congress is about to screw it up (again).

    Blog text (24)

  • The negotiations became completely gridlocked as both sides refused to compromise on key issues.

  • The ongoing debates in the Senate have left many policies gridlocked with no clear resolution in sight.

  • Local politics remain gridlocked due to disagreements among the council members, preventing any progress.

Synonyms

at an impasse
vsgridlocked
12 6.3

In a situation where people cannot agree and nothing moves forward

is used mainly in politics or negotiations rather than in general situations
stalemated
vsgridlocked
6.9

Not able to make progress because both sides block each other

is used mainly in politics or negotiations rather than in general situations
deadlocked
vsgridlocked
6.6

A situation where two sides cannot agree so nothing moves forward

is used mainly in politics or negotiations rather than in general situations

How Blocked

gridlocked
1 6.5
productive
293 3.5

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 uses the same idea for other situations: grid and lock give the image of different parts locking each other in place. So when talks or politics are gridlocked, it means opposing sides have 'locked' progress and nothing can move forward.