Synonyms of balking

balking 1 of 3

adjective

as in frustrating

Related Words

• frustrating
• baffling
• blocking
• negating
• thwarting
• nullifying
• neutralizing
• foiling
• impeding
• hampering
• retardant
• deterring
• hindering
• deterrent
• stalling
• preventive
• precautionary
• prophylactic
• preventative

Dissimilar Words

• assisting
• aiding
• facilitating
• encouraging
• smoothing
• abetting
• promoting
• nurturing
• easing
• fostering
• forwarding
• furthering

balking

2 of 3

noun

as in thwarting

Related Words

• thwarting
• baffling
• crossing
• deterrence
• frustration
• debarment
• forbidding
• checkmate
• barring
• nullification
• determent
• prohibiting
• foiling
• neutralization
• outlawing
• negation
• enjoining
• proscribing
• prohibition
• avoidance
• circumvention
• proscription
• interdiction
• prevention
• interdicting
• precluding
• averting
• forestallment

Dissimilar Words

• support
• assistance
• aid
• backing
• encouragement
• promotion
• cultivation
• facilitation
• advancement
• nurture

balking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of balk

as in hampering

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

• frustrating
• hampering
• baffling
• thwarting
• stopping
• preventing
• overcoming
• defeating
• impeding
• beating
• halting
• hindering
• discomfiting
• stalling
• blocking
• foiling
• obstructing
• checkmating
• hobbling
• inhibiting
• checking
• arresting
• barring
• interfering (with)
• handicapping
• clogging
• precluding
• obviating
• encumbering
• holding back
• averting
• forestalling
• negating
• tying up
• conquering
• nullifying
• fettering
• offsetting
• neutralizing
• counteracting
• shackling
• manacling
• short-circuiting
• setting back
• trammeling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• promoting
• encouraging
• advancing
• fostering
• assisting
• furthering
• cultivating
• forwarding
• aiding
• facilitating
• nurturing
• easing
• abetting
• smoothing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of balking

Verb

When the Timberwolves put the Nuggets over their knee and spanked them, there were so many to blame — Gordon’s aching body, Peyton Watson balking at playing, Murray’s shooting, Christian Braun’s timidity — that Jokic was almost spared. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2026

Several budget hawks and conservative economists are already balking at the idea – a bad sign when just a few Republicans in either chamber can, until the voting margins change, tank pretty much any measure. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

Many residents are balking at that timing and at Ryan’s lawsuit against Killingly’s wetlands board for rejecting the first version of the plan on July 6. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026

Others were less sympathetic, balking at Crespi’s counter-offer and stating that Crespi’s employment must be discussed publicly because the DDA is a public agency beholden to the state’s Sunshine Law. — Tess Riski august 5, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026

But the Senate is balking at that budget, leaving lawmakers far from agreement on a binding piece of legislation that can get 50 GOP votes. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 22 July 2026

Montreal was one of the cities that pulled out of the process after balking at increasing cost estimates. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Higher education is under siege, with many students and parents balking at high costs. — Washington Post, 10 June 2026

But Democrats are now balking at a long-term extension over their objections to Pulte. — John Parkinson, ABC News, 9 June 2026