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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in frustrating
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in thwarting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balking
Adjective
-
That said, diving into AI without a plan can be frustrating.—
Janet Lam,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025 -
The delays were frustrating, made more complicated by hospitalizations and evaluations that didn’t always address the root of what Avery was experiencing.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
Oh, and Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr., is playing Doctor Doom in a baffling mystery decision.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
-
Pros & Cons Thanks to a reversal of a baffling rebranding campaign, the Warner Bros. Discovery video streaming service is now once again called HBO Max.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Another friend from college, Andrew Huang, joined at the last minute for the crossing between Mexico and the Marquesas to provide another set of eyes and hands on deck.—
Terry Ward,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
-
Since opening, the bridge has seen increasing traffic, and witnessed its 100 millionth crossing in June 1998.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
With Iran's military battered from an intense 12-day war with Israel that also involved direct U.S. intervention, China is emerging as top candidate to provide advanced weaponry that could help Tehran reestablish deterrence as tensions continue to simmer across the Middle East.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
-
In a world of weaker nuclear deterrence, governments must take deliberate steps to de-escalate tensions.—
Carter Malkasian,
Foreign Affairs,
17 July 2025
Verb
-
The case stemmed from a Groveland police officer in September 2020 stopping a Lyft car for speeding and tag lights that weren’t working.—
Jim Saunders,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2025
-
What’s stopping organizations from reaping the benefits of AI right now?—
Jesse Todd,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
That move has divided GOP lawmakers — including many who see Trump as simply airing his frustration with the Fed’s choice to leave interest rates unchanged amid shifting tariff policy.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
22 July 2025
-
Other operators have expressed similar frustration, and some members of Congress have signaled support for an overhaul.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
22 July 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Balking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balking. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share