gridlock

(grĭdˈlŏkˌ)

1. A traffic jam in which no vehicular movement is possible, especially one caused by the blockage of key intersections within a grid of streets.
2. A complete lack of movement or progress resulting in a backup or stagnation: “the political gridlock that prevented … the President and Congress from moving expeditiously to cut the budget” (Robert D. Hormats).

Related Forms:

• gridˈlockˌ verb

• gridˈlockedˌ adjective