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
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
ABC News,
22 May 2026
However, the Clippers regained the advantage for good on a solo homer and a run-scoring balk.
—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
17 May 2026
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
15 June 2026
Lewis, who balked at a similar request in August 2024, didn’t hesitate to say yes this time.
—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for balk
Noun
Colton Cowser singled to put runners on the corners and Taveras scored on a balk to tie it 4-4.
—
ABC News,
22 May 2026
However, the Clippers regained the advantage for good on a solo homer and a run-scoring balk.
—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
17 May 2026
Verb
Many Plainfield residents have balked at the prospect of clearing scores of acres of vacant fields and former farmland to accommodate two enormous buildings, fleets of trucks and sprawling parking fields.
—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
15 June 2026
Lewis, who balked at a similar request in August 2024, didn’t hesitate to say yes this time.
—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for balk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balk
Noun
-
Despite these obstacles, the Cuban government faces a short window for obtaining results, said Paolo Spadoni, associate professor in the Department of Social Sciences at Augusta University in Georgia.
-
Rather than simply advocating for preservation, the organization is working directly with property owners to better understand what obstacles stand in the way of restoring some of Hollywood’s most recognizable landmarks.
Verb
-
Trump’s rogue moves have frustrated Thune’s party regularly over the past two months.
-
David Rubenstein, the son of a Baltimore postal worker, was frustrated in a Washington law firm when he was both inspired by a wildly successful leveraged buyout and unnerved by a book that claimed the odds of successfully starting a company plummets after 37.
Noun
-
But the technology still faces hurdles, experts said, and labor groups including the Teamsters are raising alarms over safety and availability of jobs.
-
Cuban leaders like former President Raúl Castro – who still wields significant power on the island – have sought to push forward more limited reforms of Cuba’s economy in the past, but efforts have run into bureaucratic hurdles.
Verb
-
In the 31st minute, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi received the ball downfield in front of the box but was thwarted by Haiti's goalkeeper Johny Placide.
-
Starmer’s attempt to tackle Britain’s spiralling benefits bill was thwarted by his own MPs.
Noun
-
The Moscow attack was the latest embarrassment for Putin.
-
Democrats aren't buying it, saying the White House is simply trying to avoid an embarrassment for the president.
Verb
-
The Illinois numbers, especially this year’s, are baffling experts.
-
Using humane methods like squirrel baffles and tree nets can effectively keep squirrels out of your fruit trees.
Noun
-
He was charged with stalking, disturbing the peace and obstruction for failure to identify himself to law enforcement.
-
Latino drivers made up 38% of stops for window obstruction.
Verb
-
Chisholm scored on Jose Caballero's RBI groundout in the fourth inning before hitting a two-run homer in the sixth as New York ended a three-game losing streak and stopped Detroit's four-game winning streak.
-
Disneyland officials said a cast member immediately stopped the ride.
Cite this Entry
“Balk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balk. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
