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

The states and the WGA, which also sued to block the merger, balked at the request. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Such a proposal could cost more than $1 trillion at a time when the nation faces a record $40 trillion debt and even some Republicans balked at the idea of tying direct payments to election results. — Lisa Mascaro, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026

Shanahan balked at an Australian adventure when first apprised in February that the 49ers would be part of it. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2026

Núñez, her old Spanish professor, balked at the notion when Molly went to tell her goodbye. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

But the prime minister balked at turning weapons on a family—and a veteran, no less. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez blatantly balked in front of a crowd of 24,297, and the only four people who could fix it didn’t see it until watching a video afterward. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026

As eastern Connecticut in the past couple of years has become an economic development hotspot, many very small towns have balked at worsening traffic and noise along with the loss of the rural lifestyle. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026

However, the fact that the European ministers who provide funding for Ariane 6 balked at these upgrades may indicate growing impatience with the rocket’s cost. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026