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Golf was being played in Scotland as early as the 15th century, but it wasn't until the 19th century that the sport really caught on in England and North America. It was also in the 19th century that the word stymie entered English as a noun referring to a golfing situation in which one player's ball lies between another ball and the hole on the putting green, thereby blocking the line of play. Later, stymie came to be used as a verb meaning "to bring into the position of, or impede by, a stymie." By the early 20th century, the verb was being applied in similarly vexing non-golf contexts.
Examples of stymie in a Sentence
Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 24 Nov. 2025
Revelations about the contract — and the lawsuit’s allegations — appear to illustrate a broader, tactical push to stymie Missouri from holding a referendum on the map.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 Nov. 2025
Unfortunately, all that momentum is eventually stymied due to the inevitable conflict that by law must arrive between any couple in a romantic comedy.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Nov. 2025
Despite a decade of growing awareness, headway has been hindered by three primary barriers, according to Fulfer, who sees progress systemically stymied by a fundamental lack of data sharing from brands reluctant to release proprietary information on their materials and processes.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Stymie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stymie. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.
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stymie
verb
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