as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the constant interruptions proved to be a balk to the flow of conversation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to frustrate
to prevent from achieving a goal
a young man with big dreams who refused to be balked by the many challenges he faced in making them a reality
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of balk
Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
Boston scored two runs in a chaotic top of the first, which saw Jarren Duran thrown out at the plate on a Rafael Devers double, only for Devers to then score on a wild pitch and a balk by Blue Jays opener Yariel Rodriguez.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 1 May 2025
Kelli Bender, People.com, 1 May 2025
But with so much uncertainty over both macroeconomic conditions and trade policies, many companies have been giving downbeat second-quarter forecasts and have been withdrawing or balking at revising their full-year projections.
—Lisa Kailai Han,sean Conlon, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balk
Noun
Many of these declarations were quickly followed by retractions or temporary suspensions, like a series of balks in an opaque tactical game.
—Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
Boston scored two runs in a chaotic top of the first, which saw Jarren Duran thrown out at the plate on a Rafael Devers double, only for Devers to then score on a wild pitch and a balk by Blue Jays opener Yariel Rodriguez.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 1 May 2025
Verb
While some may balk at adding more snakes to the neighborhood, there is a good reason behind the release, which is an annual event.
—Kelli Bender, People.com, 1 May 2025
But with so much uncertainty over both macroeconomic conditions and trade policies, many companies have been giving downbeat second-quarter forecasts and have been withdrawing or balking at revising their full-year projections.
—Lisa Kailai Han,sean Conlon, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balk
Noun
-
Players utilize a set of common rules -- that can be altered by the game master -- and dice to overcome obstacles as the group works to collaboratively tell a story.—
Remington Miller,
Arkansas Online,
16 May 2025
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Powered by Adelaide, Forbes AI Running a company means facing obstacles that shake your foundation.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Verb
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The naming practices can frustrate efforts to track the chemicals in food, to measure how much of the stuff people are taking in, and even to figure out precisely which chemicals a scientific study evaluated, researchers said.—
David Hilzenrath,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
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Alex Caruso, the 6-foot-5 defensive savant who spent so much of the evening frustrating the 6-11 Nikola Jokić, was the real MVP of the night (Jokić had 20 points on 5-of-9 shooting, with nine rebounds, seven assists and five turnovers).—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Noun
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The impact of the legislative hurdles is being felt at the construction site.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
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Despite the logistical hurdles, the experience left a profound impact on the actor.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
13 May 2025
Verb
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After a strikeout, Luis Castillo hit a foul fly that Moises Alou jumped for, only to have his efforts thwarted by a fan making a play on the ball himself.—
Steve Svekis,
Sun Sentinel,
18 May 2025
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This is not the only recent livestock smuggling attempt thwarted at a U.S.-Mexico border crossing in California.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2025
Noun
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But this latest exchange had a far less satisfying denouement: an uncertain military outcome and a diplomatic embarrassment, in the eyes of Modi’s nationalist base.—
Vaibhav Vats,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2025
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Houston has lost its last six against the Ravens, including last year’s 31-2 embarrassment on Christmas Day.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Some were baffled by Perry’s dancing and said the show looked cheap.—
Courtney Lane,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2025
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The complexities of her character mirrored in her stony, resentful stare, in her grim, unforgiving mouth, will always baffle and enthrall.—
E.R. Zarevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
7 May 2025
Noun
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Federal prosecutors charged Dugan in April with obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest.—
Todd Richmond,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
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The Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s aggressive use of the obstruction charges.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
13 May 2025
Verb
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One day, a man named Harold McPherson stopped to answer her, and not long after, the two married.—
Dorothy Fortenberry,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2025
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Parts of the river so choked by weed that boat traffic was stopped were clear within days.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Balk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balk. Accessed 26 May. 2025.
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