deadlocked

19 6.6

A situation where two sides cannot agree so nothing moves forward

adjective
/ˈdɛdˌlɑkt/

: bloqueado

After hours of discussion, the committee found itself deadlocked over the proposed budget, with no agreement in sight.

Examples

The King was now stuck with a deadlocked legislature for the next seven years.
All right, y'all, we are deadlocked, which means that is a tie.
Northern Ireland is deadlocked, the Welsh are alienated, Scotland is going for referendum, the English are split down the middle.
The negotiations between the two countries were deadlocked, leaving both leaders frustrated and unsure of how to proceed.
With both teams unwilling to compromise, the competition ended in a deadlocked tie, resulting in no winner.

Synonyms

stuck

vsdeadlocked

690 1.0

Not able to move because something holds or traps you

describes a standstill caused by opposing forces rather than physical trapping

gridlocked

vsdeadlocked

4 6.5

Unable to make progress because opposing sides block each other

is more general and not limited to political or negotiation contexts

stalemated

vsdeadlocked

1 6.9

Not able to make progress because both sides block each other

is a complete standstill without stressing equal strength between opponents

Antonyms

advancing

10 3.4

Moving forward or making progress slowly and steadily

How Blocked

deadlocked

19 6.6

blocked

56 1.7

unobstructed

9 4.6

Surface Forms

deadlocked positive

Morphology

deadlocked = deadlock (semi-transparent) = dead + lock + ed

The adjective is transparently formed by adding '-ed' to the noun 'deadlock', but the noun 'deadlock' is a metaphorical compound whose meaning is not fully predictable from 'dead' + 'lock'.

Etymology

Deadlocked comes from the parts dead meaning 'completely' and lock meaning 'to fasten' or a thing that keeps something closed, like a locked door. So, deadlocked describes a situation where nothing can move or change.