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
-
What’s more frustrating is that neither of the bracket’s two best overall performers will be proceeding on to the semifinals, and in hindsight, one of them — Acid Betty — really wasn’t given a chance.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
27 June 2025 -
The most frustrating character on The Bear continues to be Claire (Molly Gordon), whose on-screen role in Season 3 was limited, but whose importance even as an unseen force has grown and grown.—
Linda Holmes,
NPR,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
The claim that chess is a form of gambling was baffling, according to every chess player NPR spoke to, including Herat resident Jarallah Badghisi.—
Diaa Hadid,
NPR,
17 June 2025
-
Some baffling decisions were made that fundamentally alter not only her characterization and arc, but the very nature of the story itself.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
The current route—the E39—includes multiple ferry crossings and takes over 21 hours to drive.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
-
The supplies were transported from Israel through the Kerem Shalom crossing point without any reported looting, and the blood and plasma were delivered to Nasser Hospital's cold storage facility for distribution to other medical centers, the organization and the hospital reported.—
Diaa Ostaz,
ABC News,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
Unlike deterrence by punishment, which threatens consequences like economic sanctions, a strategy of denial seeks to convince an aggressor that its objectives are unobtainable, by making the likelihood of a catastrophic military defeat more credible.—
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
-
What once seemed like a regional containment policy now shows the traits of a broader, irreverent deterrence doctrine—enabled by unconditional U.S. support.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
20 June 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
-
The briefings were initially planned for earlier in the week but were postponed, to the frustration of the delegation.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2025
-
And after Thursday's loss to the Astros, Kepler vented some frustrations about that managerial decision.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Balking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balking. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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