as in frustrated
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
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Recent Examples of balked
Initially, large companies balked at making sizable investments in Venezuela.
—
Camila Domonoske, NPR, 7 May 2026
Some major Spirit creditors, however, balked at the proposal, reportedly fearing their priority positions for repayment would be compromised.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026
The School Board had asked the Boys and Girls Club to pay more rent, but the club balked.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Negotiations over a $500 million dollar government aid package remained stalled after bondholders balked at the terms.
—Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Investors balked when the CEO failed to provide details about how Meta plans to make a return on its investments, sending shares down as much as 10% on Thursday after trading got underway in New York, their biggest intraday drop since October.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Those same investors, however, balked at endorsing WBD CEO David Zaslav’s massive golden paramount, though that vote is non-binding.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
Funds left on the table The price tag for the new pipe and pump system was another issue locals and council members balked at, but the plan already accounted for most of the funding.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
If Democrats have balked at MAHA’s rejection of vaccines, battling glyphosate has a chance of locking in the movement’s wider base of support.
—Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Camila Domonoske, NPR, 7 May 2026
Some major Spirit creditors, however, balked at the proposal, reportedly fearing their priority positions for repayment would be compromised.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026
The School Board had asked the Boys and Girls Club to pay more rent, but the club balked.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Negotiations over a $500 million dollar government aid package remained stalled after bondholders balked at the terms.
—Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Investors balked when the CEO failed to provide details about how Meta plans to make a return on its investments, sending shares down as much as 10% on Thursday after trading got underway in New York, their biggest intraday drop since October.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Those same investors, however, balked at endorsing WBD CEO David Zaslav’s massive golden paramount, though that vote is non-binding.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
Funds left on the table The price tag for the new pipe and pump system was another issue locals and council members balked at, but the plan already accounted for most of the funding.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
If Democrats have balked at MAHA’s rejection of vaccines, battling glyphosate has a chance of locking in the movement’s wider base of support.
—Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balked
Verb
-
The forward was frustrated, too.—
Jack Leo,
AJC.com,
16 May 2026
-
Many billionaires are frustrated over blue states’ and cities’ attempts to raise taxes on the superrich.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Initial responders were baffled.—
Hank Tester,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
He is still baffled by the polygamous, fickle nature of American sports fandom.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
But most summit speakers treated circularity—a nebulous concept at the best of times—largely as an engineering challenge, one hampered by immature infrastructure, policy gaps and weak economics.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
-
The company is seeking to create a Duchenne gene therapy that is more effective and safer than Sarepta Therapeutics’ Elevidys, which has been hampered by safety concerns, particularly following the deaths of two recipients from liver failure.—
Jason Mast,
STAT,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The environmental high point of the past year for me was when Western politicians, led by Republican Representative Ryan Zinke of Montana and backed by constituents across the political spectrum, thwarted Senator Mike Lee’s plans to sell off public lands.—
John Reid,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
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But the plan gets thwarted when said camboy is murdered in the process, setting Paula off into a spiral to uncover what happened and clear her name.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balked. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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