as in frustrating
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as in thwarting
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Dissimilar Words
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
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Recent Examples of balking
Wire Tbd, Dallas Morning News, 8 Apr. 2026
But out in the world, shoppers started balking at the cost of a bag of chips.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
The notion of characterizing such a move as anything more than penalizing the public — which is finally balking at more taxation — is nonsense.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
His predecessors stretched the bounds of constitutional law for years, balking at requirement that a commander in chief seek congressional approval.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Some investors are balking at paying those high prices and are instead looking for off-ramps.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
However, the Hawks don’t appear to be the only team balking at the thought of him on another long-term max deal.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Some Fed officials are balking at further cuts while inflation remains above the central bank’s 2% target.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 16 Dec. 2025
According to Disney, the carriage fee increases that Google is balking at are in line with what Disney has successfully negotiated with other distributors, including it own Hulu + Live TV and Fubo services.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
But out in the world, shoppers started balking at the cost of a bag of chips.
—Wire Tbd, Dallas Morning News, 8 Apr. 2026
But out in the world, shoppers started balking at the cost of a bag of chips.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
The notion of characterizing such a move as anything more than penalizing the public — which is finally balking at more taxation — is nonsense.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
His predecessors stretched the bounds of constitutional law for years, balking at requirement that a commander in chief seek congressional approval.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Some investors are balking at paying those high prices and are instead looking for off-ramps.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
However, the Hawks don’t appear to be the only team balking at the thought of him on another long-term max deal.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Some Fed officials are balking at further cuts while inflation remains above the central bank’s 2% target.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 16 Dec. 2025
According to Disney, the carriage fee increases that Google is balking at are in line with what Disney has successfully negotiated with other distributors, including it own Hulu + Live TV and Fubo services.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balking
Adjective
-
What’s especially frustrating is that this debate is being driven by politicians seeking to divide us, rather than families, coaches, and the people who are actually raising kids and protecting them.—
Mike Smith,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
-
But that was not the mayor's most frustrating moment.—
Marcia Kramer,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The thwarting of the Charlotte Hornets, one of the NBA’s fastest squads, is the quintessential White play.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The council keeps losing court battles on issues ranging from its Voter ID law to its efforts to censor library books to its thwarting of state housing laws.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Brian Hooker reported his wife missing on Sunday, April 5, saying she had been swept away from a dingy which lost power the night before, hampering his ability to seek help.—
Cristian Benavides,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The moves have reportedly left the task force without prosecutors with national security experience, hampering its goal to root out American connections to the Hamas attacks (which included 40 Americans among its approximately 1,200 victims).—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The renderings of what was shown to Hopewell Township resident Kyle Eaton were a tad baffling.—
Chilekasi Adele,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
That lack of curiosity has always been baffling to me.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The initial investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle, a 38-year-old male, was traveling northbound on the highway crossing through West Bromley Lane when the pedestrian crossed the road and was struck by the vehicle.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The project includes replacing a section of Book Road with a one-mile, 12-foot-wide paved trail, improving the existing trail crossing at 119th Street and installing new bench pads and benches, officials said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meghan, 44, and Harry, 41, skipped a traditional airport photo op, instead departing in a convoy of vehicles without stopping to pose for the press.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2026
-
But with the brief resurgence of the run game, the run-stopping, athletic inside linebacker is a bit more crucial.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The winner was the player who avoided being blocked the longest — a blocking game, a category of strategy game where the objective centers on restricting your opponent’s movement.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Their true deterrence is their ability to close the Strait of Hormuz and choke off 20% of the world’s energy supply.—
Donald Heflin,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Western policymakers tend to focus narrowly on missiles, sanctions, and deterrence.—
Pegah Banihashemi,
Time,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balking. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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