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

Democratic activists balked, Hilton stepped down and investments dried up. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026

And, while other states had balked at the fifty-million-dollar price tag that Hubbard deemed necessary for the clinical trials, Texas had ended the year with a twenty-four-billion-dollar budget surplus from oil and gas revenues. — Michelle Lhooq, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026

Rave reviews from automotive journalists and the truck's ability to serve as a backup generator were not enough to sway consumers who balked at its high price. — Morgan Korn, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

According to multiple sources, Houston engaged with various teams about starting pitching but balked at massive asking prices. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

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