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
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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
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Recent Examples of balk
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
Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Understanding that their business model was under threat, pop music’s titans initially balked at streaming.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
The Department of Transportation has threatened states in the past to comply with new requirements or risk being stripped of federal funding, but threatening air travel could cause airlines to balk and risk passengers being left stranded, Kayyem said.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Understanding that their business model was under threat, pop music’s titans initially balked at streaming.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balk
Noun
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But formidable obstacles remain in the way of a durable peace in Gaza, where a ceasefire collapsed in March after nearly two months of relative calm when Israel unleashed a barrage of airstrikes.—
Alexander Cornwell,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
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But even with these obstacles, oddsmakers seem to believe the Bucs have plot armor.—
J.J. Bailey,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If the White House grows distracted, or frustrated by slow progress, fighting could easily resume.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
16 Oct. 2025
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Appearing frustrated, Pitzer grabbed the child’s finger and used it to smear icing onto their face, according to the sheriff’s office.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The new method could allow the scientific community to overcome one of the key hurdles associated with fusion energy – maintaining plasma stability.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
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Staffing costs and availability are chief among the reasons, the organization adds, both because skilled individuals can’t be sourced in rural areas and because the traditional long hours and on-call schedules poses further hurdles for recruitment.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Most of those aerial attacks were thwarted by Ukraine or otherwise failed, the air force said.—
Lilia Geho,
ABC News,
16 Oct. 2025
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Evans said he wasn’t thwarted by the brand’s adoption among Robinson and other political figures because of their lowbrow tastes.—
Steve Salter,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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It’s been speculated Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk fired Callahan this week to sidestep the embarrassment of Vrabel schooling his successor Sunday.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
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Minnesota has become the laughingstock of America — the embarrassment of our nation.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the immediacy around these conversations about the Titans are baffling to me.—
Nick Suss,
Nashville Tennessean,
13 Oct. 2025
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And suddenly, Glenn and the Jets headed to halftime without running a play in the nearly 40 seconds at their disposal, a move that baffled both their loyalists in New Jersey and the Broncos’ sideline across the pond.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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According to Delaware County court records, LaSota was charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Oct. 2025
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The footage does not show that, and Garcia Venegas was never charged with obstruction or any other crime.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Wearing a floor-length brown double-breasted coat featuring buttons that stopped at her waist, the attire created a sultry thigh-high slit that allowed Jolie's leg to peek through.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
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Studies in animals and reports from people show that the side effects of this drug can continue even after someone stops taking it.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Balk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balk. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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