# deadlock vs dreadlocks

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### deadlock
*noun · IPA /ˈdɛdˌlɒk/ · frequency rank #29,992*
A standstill resulting from the opposition of two evenly matched forces; a stalemate or impasse.

### dreadlocks
*noun · IPA /ˈdɹɛdlɒks/ · frequency rank #45,898*
A hairstyle worn by Rastafarians and others in which the hair is left to grow long, and twisted into matted strings.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deadlock-vs-dreadlocks