| Main Entry: | gridlock |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | traffic jam |
Synonyms: |
barrier, blockage, bottleneck, clog, congestion, impasse, logjam, obstacle, stoppage |
| Main Entry: | deadlock |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | stalemate, impasse |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, box*, cessation, checkmate, corner, dead end, dead heat, dilemma, draw, full stop, gridlock, halt, hole, pause, pickle, plight, posture, predicament, quandary, standoff, standstill, tie, wall* |
| Notes: | stalemate does not end - it is the outcome (stale in stalemate is from Anglo-Norman meaning 'be placed'); a standoff or deadlock can end |
Antonyms: |
agreement, breakthrough |
| Main Entry: | hindrance |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | obstruction, difficulty |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, albatross, baggage, ball and chain, bar, barrier, catch, check, clog, crimp, cumbrance, deterrent, drag, drawback, encumbrance, excess baggage, foot dragging, glitch*, gridlock, handicap, hang-up, hitch, impedance, impediment, interference, interruption, intervention, jam-up, joker, limitation, lock, millstone, monkey wrench, obstacle, restraint, restriction, snag, stoppage, stumbling block, trammel |
Antonyms: |
advance, aid, assistance, encouragement, expedition, help, promotion, push |
| Main Entry: | holdup |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | problem |
Synonyms: |
bottleneck, delay, difficulty, gridlock, hitch, obstruction, setback, snag, stoppage, traffic jam, trouble, wait |
Antonyms: |
aid, assistance, help |
| Main Entry: | impasse |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | stalemate |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, box*, cessation, corner*, cul-de-sac, dead end, deadlock, dilemma, fix, gridlock, jam, mire*, morass, pause, pickle, plight, predicament, quandary, rest, scrape*, standoff, standstill |
Antonyms: |
agreement, breakthrough |
| Main Entry: | obstruction |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | obstacle, impediment |
Synonyms: |
bar, barricade, barrier, block, blockage, blocking, booby trap, check, checkmate, circumvention, difficulty, gridlock, hamper, hindrance, hurdle, interference, jam*, lock, monkey wrench, mountain*, restraint, roadblock, snag, stop, stoppage, stumbling block, trammel, trouble, wall |
Antonyms: |
aid, assistance, boost, help, promotion, support |
| Main Entry: | pause |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | wait, delay |
Synonyms: |
abeyance, break, break-off, breathing space, breathing spell, caesura, cessation, coffee break, comma, cutoff, deadlock, discontinuance, downtime, freeze*, gap, gridlock, halt, happy hour, hesitancy, hesitation, hiatus, hitch*, hush, interim, interlude, intermission, interregnum, interruption, interval, lacuna, lapse, layoff, letup, lull, pausation, recess, respite, rest, rest period, stand, standstill, stay, stillness, stopover, stoppage, suspension, time out |
Antonyms: |
continuation, persistence |
| Main Entry: | prohibit |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make impossible; stop |
Synonyms: |
ban, block, bottle up, box in, bring to screeching halt, constrain, cool*, cork, debar, disallow, enjoin, forbid, forfend, freeze*, gridlock, halt, hamper, hang up, hinder, hold up, impede, inhibit, interdict, jam up, keep lid on, kill, lock up, nix, obstruct, outlaw, pass on, preclude, prevent, proscribe, put a lock on, put a stopper in, put chill on, put down, put half nelson on, restrain, restrict, rule out, shut out, spike*, stymie*, taboo*, throw cold water on, tie up, veto, zing |
Antonyms: |
allow, favor, permit, push |
| Main Entry: | repress |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | keep back, hold in |
Synonyms: |
black out, bottle, chasten, check, collect, compose, control, cool*, cork, crush, curb, gridlock, hinder, hold back, inhibit, jam up, keep in, keep in check, keep under wraps, kill*, lock, master, muffle, overcome, overpower, quash, quelch, quell, rein, restrain, shush, silence, simmer down, smother, squelch, stifle, subdue, subjugate, suppress, swallow, throw cold water on, tie up |
Antonyms: |
allow, let go, permit |
| Main Entry: | stalemate |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | deadlock |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, arrest, check, delay, draw, gridlock, impasse, pause, standoff, standstill, tie |
Antonyms: |
headway, progress |