1.
Gridlock is the situation that exists when all the roads in a particular place are so full of vehicles that none of them can move.
The streets are wedged solid with near-constant traffic ~.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
You can use ~ to refer to a situation in an argument or dispute when neither side is prepared to give in, so no agreement can be reached.
He agreed that these policies will lead to ~ in the future.
= deadlock
N-UNCOUNT