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
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
As players started returning home for the debut of Major League Soccer, some names balked at the opportunity to play with the Galaxy.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
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
As players started returning home for the debut of Major League Soccer, some names balked at the opportunity to play with the Galaxy.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balked
Verb
-
Galvin was frustrated with the police, and ultimately hired their own private investigor and created a Justice for Kianna social media page.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Stone has grown increasingly frustrated by the delays.—
Rebekah F. Ward,
Houston Chronicle,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
His gift is an uncanny ability to solve crimes that leave the LAPD baffled, armed only with the savvy and dry humor reminiscent of the gumshoe detectives of the noir genre.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
-
During our overnight coverage on CNN, Jim Sciutto pointed out that people watching in other countries are baffled by this American attribute.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Abreu came through again with a sacrifice fly to score Jarren Duran in the bottom of the inning, but the potential Red Sox rally was hampered after Willson Contreras was thrown out at second trying to stretch a single into a double for the inning’s first out.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2026
-
The wear and tear of lengthy overtimes also hampered the Mammoth’s skaters.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
In a famous case in 1969, residents of the town of Orgosolo successfully thwarted the construction of a firing range on communal grazing land known as Pratobello.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
-
In the gold medal game versus Canada, Hughes was an inch away from ending it early in overtime and was thwarted by a glove save.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balked. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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