balk 1 of 2

balk

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb balk differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of balk are baffle, foil, frustrate, and thwart. While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

When is baffle a more appropriate choice than balk?

The words baffle and balk are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

When can foil be used instead of balk?

The synonyms foil and balk are sometimes interchangeable, but foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

When would frustrate be a good substitute for balk?

The words frustrate and balk can be used in similar contexts, but frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

When is it sensible to use thwart instead of balk?

While in some cases nearly identical to balk, thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of balk
Noun
The Yankees committed four errors and a costly balk in Thursday’s defeat, leading to four unearned runs on a night Boston went 3-for-19 with runners in scoring position and stranded 14 baserunners. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 Aug. 2025 In the meantime the Red Sox took the lead on a balk in the bottom of the third, which was drawn after Connor Wong faked towards home plate and got Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano to flinch. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
For example, the person who balks at personal outreach or opts out of LinkedIn despite knowing that’s where recruiters look. Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 20 Sep. 2025 Elvis balked about recording the oversexed song. Kim Willis, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for balk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balk
Noun
  • Over the next 12 months, HMS will gain access to mentorship, commercial opportunities, business and legal advisory, digital tools, and physical resources such as co-working spaces and wet labs, support designed to help early-stage companies overcome common obstacles that startups face.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The permit problem According to Saltzer, capture is lagging because, despite available storage and existing pipelines, permitting new CO2 infrastructure remains a major obstacle.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Broner also got frustrated on multiple occasions upon noticing that someone was recording him, and even grabbed the phone at one point.
    Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 24 Sep. 2025
  • The mayor of Lobitos, Ricardo Bancayan Eche insists that protecting the waves is an issue close to his heart but says he is frustrated by national politics.
    Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The additional hurdle for H-1B visas—a category for high-skilled workers that many tech companies rely upon—could undermine America’s ability to attract top tech talent, Bansal explained.
    Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Of course, there’s still a final hurdle for Cootes to leap over in the final week of the preseason.
    Thomas Drance, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Johnson thwarted Messi again just before halftime with a heads-up save from close range.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Its pull could be enough to interact with Tropical Cyclone Nine – the possible soon-to-be Hurricane Imelda – in the Atlantic Ocean and thwart major damage in North and South Carolina.
    Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen was an embarrassment once again on Tuesday night, but even that couldn't distract from the brilliance of Shohei Ohtani.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
  • These authors include religious practice and philosophical musings without the embarrassment of their Catholic literary contemporaries.
    Anna Bruno September 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Fans in the surrounding section can be heard in shock, baffled that the man gave away such a coveted possession.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Zeidman was baffled that Shane had been the first person Brooklyn prosecutors sought to execute.
    John J. Lennon, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • He has been charged with armed kidnapping, willful injury, domestic abuse assault with the intent to inflict serious injuries and obstruction of emergency communications, according to public court records.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Bondi’s appearance on Fox News comes days after Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury on two of three counts sought by prosecutors, one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice, according to documents.
    Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The traffic itself generally keeps moving rather than fully stopping.
    Eric D. Lawrence, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Fighting on the island had stopped, so the soldiers in the picture were not under fire, and the action of raising the flag (there is a movie of it) took all of a few seconds.
    Louis Menand, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Balk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balk. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on balk

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!