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
In Tallahassee, lawmakers have largely balked at her pleas for more formal cooperation and investment with NASA.
—
Katelyn Ferral, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Hebert initially balked at the idea of having nonemergency dispatchers work from home.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Though most of Southwestern states have deployed the beetle to rid the rife stands of tamarisk, Arizona has balked.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
An early proposal would have added sales tax on business-to-business services, but Moore balked at a blanket sales tax, agreeing to the tax on IT and data services instead.
—Bryan P. Sears, Baltimore Sun, 12 Mar. 2026
California had balked at a prior attempt from the government to get the state to cancel 17,400 CDLs, but the Department of Transportation (DOT) likely forced its hand after pulling nearly $160 million in funding that would have went to highway and infrastructure programs.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 11 Mar. 2026
Many Republicans had balked at installing the plaque.
—Mary Clare Jalonick, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
His first bill would have banned cities and counties from flying official flags, but lawmakers balked at that approach.
—Idaho Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
And financially, there's a reason insurers balked at covering ships through the strait.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 4 Mar. 2026
Katelyn Ferral, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Hebert initially balked at the idea of having nonemergency dispatchers work from home.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Though most of Southwestern states have deployed the beetle to rid the rife stands of tamarisk, Arizona has balked.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
An early proposal would have added sales tax on business-to-business services, but Moore balked at a blanket sales tax, agreeing to the tax on IT and data services instead.
—Bryan P. Sears, Baltimore Sun, 12 Mar. 2026
California had balked at a prior attempt from the government to get the state to cancel 17,400 CDLs, but the Department of Transportation (DOT) likely forced its hand after pulling nearly $160 million in funding that would have went to highway and infrastructure programs.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 11 Mar. 2026
Many Republicans had balked at installing the plaque.
—Mary Clare Jalonick, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
His first bill would have banned cities and counties from flying official flags, but lawmakers balked at that approach.
—Idaho Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
And financially, there's a reason insurers balked at covering ships through the strait.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balked
Verb
-
As a fashion enthusiast, I’ve always been frustrated with the lack of options for petite shoppers and usually resort to hemming or cuffing regular-length pants.—
Melony Forcier,
InStyle,
13 Mar. 2026
-
In a move that’s frustrated some players, the turf stadiums hosting World Cup games this summer are installing grass just for that event.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One administrator told me that he was baffled, but that the embassy staff seemed confident that something would come of it.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Kokuho was her very first film, and the prospect of attending the Academy Awards astonished and baffled her.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But he has been hampered by injuries the past two seasons, missing three games in 2024 and nine last season because of a hamstring injury and broken collarbone.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The latest firings only added to concerns inside the Justice Department and FBI that counterterrorism and intelligence investigations could become hampered by a loss of national security experts, multiple sources familiar with the matter said.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Theroux attempts to speak with women connected to his noxious subjects, but his efforts are largely thwarted.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The initiative has thwarted two potential attacks.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balked. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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