Synonyms of balked

balked

verb

past tense of balk

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frustrated
• baffled
• hampered
• thwarted
• stopped
• defeated
• halted
• prevented
• foiled
• discomfited
• hindered
• impeded
• overcame
• blocked
• checkmated
• stalled
• beat
• obstructed
• arrested
• checked
• inhibited
• handicapped
• precluded
• hobbled
• barred
• encumbered
• shackled
• obviated
• averted
• tied up
• conquered
• interfered (with)
• held back
• clogged
• nullified
• set back
• forestalled
• neutralized
• negated
• counteracted
• fettered
• short-circuited
• offset
• manacled
• trammeled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• encouraged
• advanced
• promoted
• forwarded
• cultivated
• assisted
• fostered
• aided
• furthered
• nurtured
• facilitated
• eased
• smoothed
• abetted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of balked

More employers have balked at paying for them because so many people could be eligible for the treatments and many patients stop them after achieving a weight-loss goal. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2026

Beshear’s administration balked at forcing insurers to work with the company, but ultimately declined to reinstate tighter spending controls. — Alex Acquisto, ProPublica, 30 July 2026

Things reached a boiling point in 2008, when NATAS tried to launch its own Broadband Emmys, and the TV Academy balked. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 July 2026

Nicholas said that fans often would point out to him that Henry balked in the final sequence of the movie. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026

Alex Jackson scored from third after reliever Luis Morales balked with the bases loaded, and Jeffers followed with a two-run single that made it 6-0 in the second. — ABC News, 26 July 2026

The Brewers were one team that balked at the Nationals’ high asking price on Abrams over the winter. — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 25 July 2026

Other abolitionists balked at this celebration of Washington’s antislavery credentials. — John Garrison Marks, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026

Most governments have so far balked at putting in place mandatory rules about what safeguards companies developing advanced AI systems need to build into their models or have in place internally to guard against losing control of AI agents. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 22 July 2026