stone·wall
ˈstōn-ˌwȯl 
stonewalled; stonewalling; stonewalls
1
chiefly British
: to engage in obstructive parliamentary debate or delaying tactics
2
: to be uncooperative, obstructive, or evasive
: to refuse to comply or cooperate with
stonewaller
noun
1
: a fence made of stones
especially
: one built of rough stones without mortar to enclose a field
2
: an immovable block or obstruction (as in public affairs)
Examples of stonewall in a Sentence
Verb
They stonewalled until they could come up with a response.
They were just stonewalling for time.
They're trying to stonewall the media.
We're trying to get the information, but we're being stonewalled.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 29 Mar. 2024
When Dean’s friends stonewall her, Addison hires her father’s old friend, Porter Hayes, to look for him.
—Sandra Dallas, The Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2024
In late January, the Turkish parliament ratified Sweden’s accession to NATO, bringing an end to nearly two years of stonewalling by the Turkish government.
—Soner Cagaptay, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2024
The governor, who stonewalled earlier attempts to opt into the program, said his perspective changed after speaking with students across the state who didn’t get enough to eat over the summer months.
—USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2024
According to Barnett, management stonewalled on his report.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024
As disturbing details about their relationship emerge, the Jordans hire a lawyer and start stonewalling.
—Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024
But on Capitol Hill, aides to the two lawmakers, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas and Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, are accusing the administration of stonewalling critical questions on the size of the force.
—Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024
On Wednesday, Crump, flanked by members of Malcolm X’s family, said requests to New York and federal agencies for surveillance and other records related to the case have repeatedly been stonewalled.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024
Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
During an excavation along the outskirts of the city, archaeologists discovered stone walls more than 2,000 years old, likely part of an ancient warehouse district, according to a March 22 news release from INRAP, the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2024
Working with Eldorado Stone—the iconic brand revered for its wide range of stone and brick veneer products—our plans include statement stone walls throughout the property.
—Camille Styles, Sunset Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
Shelton's picture showed faux stone walls and stained glass as part of the room's decor.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024
The 19th-century estate in Wales sprawls over 17 pastoral acres and incorporates stone walls that date to the 14th and 15th centuries.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2024
The spa’s indoor grotto pool, for example, has stone walls illuminated by glowing candles, which gives the space a secluded cave-like feel.
—Sarah Gish, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024
Ferrari also incorporated the existing historic stone wall into the design — the remnants of a garage from the 1920s.
—Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024
The stone wall included a lightning rod, which protected the mill from lightning.
Millstones and other tools were unearthed from the lower part of the ruins, researchers said.
—Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024
Verb
Republicans have tried to expand school choice for years, but have been stonewalled with court decisions.
—Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 29 Mar. 2024
When Dean’s friends stonewall her, Addison hires her father’s old friend, Porter Hayes, to look for him.
—Sandra Dallas, The Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2024
In late January, the Turkish parliament ratified Sweden’s accession to NATO, bringing an end to nearly two years of stonewalling by the Turkish government.
—Soner Cagaptay, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2024
The governor, who stonewalled earlier attempts to opt into the program, said his perspective changed after speaking with students across the state who didn’t get enough to eat over the summer months.
—USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2024
According to Barnett, management stonewalled on his report.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024
As disturbing details about their relationship emerge, the Jordans hire a lawyer and start stonewalling.
—Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024
But on Capitol Hill, aides to the two lawmakers, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas and Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, are accusing the administration of stonewalling critical questions on the size of the force.
—Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024
On Wednesday, Crump, flanked by members of Malcolm X’s family, said requests to New York and federal agencies for surveillance and other records related to the case have repeatedly been stonewalled.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024
Noun
The massive container ship named DALI has previously collided with infrastructure while docking, according to reports that show DALI collided with a stone wall at a dock in Antwerp, Belgium, in the afternoon of July 11, 2016.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
During an excavation along the outskirts of the city, archaeologists discovered stone walls more than 2,000 years old, likely part of an ancient warehouse district, according to a March 22 news release from INRAP, the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2024
Working with Eldorado Stone—the iconic brand revered for its wide range of stone and brick veneer products—our plans include statement stone walls throughout the property.
—Camille Styles, Sunset Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
Shelton's picture showed faux stone walls and stained glass as part of the room's decor.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024
The 19th-century estate in Wales sprawls over 17 pastoral acres and incorporates stone walls that date to the 14th and 15th centuries.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2024
The spa’s indoor grotto pool, for example, has stone walls illuminated by glowing candles, which gives the space a secluded cave-like feel.
—Sarah Gish, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024
Ferrari also incorporated the existing historic stone wall into the design — the remnants of a garage from the 1920s.
—Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024
The stone wall included a lightning rod, which protected the mill from lightning.
Millstones and other tools were unearthed from the lower part of the ruins, researchers said.
—Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stonewall.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Stonewall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stonewall. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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