as in obstacles
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the constant interruptions proved to be a balk to the flow of conversation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in frustrates
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of balks
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
The balks and furrows, left undisturbed, had other uses too.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
CBS News, 28 May 2026
In response, Brennan balks at the idea — surely, Williams has experienced cooler things?
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2026
Glushon balks at many of Raman’s positions, including her opposition to a law that allows the city to ban homeless people from the streets near schools.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
But while Wall Street balks at the bountiful spending, tech companies are racing to build more infrastructure to keep up with customer demand for AI services.
—Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2026
Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead balks at the comparison.
—Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 5 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Glinda balks at the opportunity to straddle the broom with Elphaba and combine their powers to reach unlimited heights.
—Time, 21 Nov. 2025
If your agent balks, find another one who is more amenable to cutting their levy — at least a little.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025
And Scherzinger’s outspoken faith makes her something of an outlier in an industry that balks at too much Jesus talk, especially when that talk becomes entwined with Trump messaging.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
Right now, the only things that are out there and subjective are check swings and balks.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
The balks and furrows, left undisturbed, had other uses too.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
Perhaps there's a fussy Phillies fan in footy pajamas who balks at the twice-daily ritual but might be more inclined to brush because Harper does it, as well.
—CBS News, 28 May 2026
In response, Brennan balks at the idea — surely, Williams has experienced cooler things?
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2026
Glushon balks at many of Raman’s positions, including her opposition to a law that allows the city to ban homeless people from the streets near schools.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
But while Wall Street balks at the bountiful spending, tech companies are racing to build more infrastructure to keep up with customer demand for AI services.
—Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2026
Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead balks at the comparison.
—Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 5 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Glinda balks at the opportunity to straddle the broom with Elphaba and combine their powers to reach unlimited heights.
—Time, 21 Nov. 2025
If your agent balks, find another one who is more amenable to cutting their levy — at least a little.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025
And Scherzinger’s outspoken faith makes her something of an outlier in an industry that balks at too much Jesus talk, especially when that talk becomes entwined with Trump messaging.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balks
Noun
-
That disconnect is beginning to create what could become the new trust economy—one in which governance, authentication, transparency and accountability become strategic advantages for the companies in this space, rather than just operational or compliance obstacles.—
Jacques Ledbetter,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
His fragile starman is a strange, complex being navigating his way through Earth’s obstacles, including love, lust, addiction, greed, and ambition in his plight to save his planet and survive the chaos caused by his arrival.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Part of what fascinates and frustrates as regards Ginsberg is that for all of those thick anthologies, propriety forces me to concede that many of the poems simply aren’t that good.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Every customer service call, chatbot exchange, product review, email, and digital interaction contains insight into what customers expect, what frustrates them, and what ultimately builds loyalty.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Noun
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Overcoming cost barriers with advanced architecture Traditional nuclear energy projects frequently face economic hurdles due to the extensive lead times and high capital requirements of manufacturing heavy components.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
-
California has the third-most data centers in the country, with 300, but high electricity rates, expensive land and regulatory hurdles mean that fewer, and smaller, facilities are currently planned than in other hotspots.—
Blanca Begert,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Duncan's supporters say the attempt by a majority white conservative Legislature to eliminate Duncan's job thwarts the will of voters in New Orleans, a predominantly Black Democratic hub in a red state.—
JACK BROOK,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
-
Sam Houston comeback thwarts Irving Arlington Sam Houston scored three unanswered goals after trailing 2-0 in the first half against Irving on Friday night.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Of the photons of light that avoid clouds of dust and other deep-space obstructions to reach our planet, most don’t make it through Earth’s thick atmosphere, let alone through a telescope’s loss-prone optics.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
27 May 2026
-
Water causes cotton to expand rather than dissolve, which can create obstructions in pipes.—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
Multiple baffles within the bladder help keep the liquid from sloshing around excessively, while a wide waterproof zipper across the top makes for easy filling, cleaning, and adding of electrolytes.—
Ben Coxworth
May 11,
New Atlas,
11 May 2026
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This baffles and outrages Angela, a protective mom who, with other parents, pushes back against Gabor using her math classroom as a forum for introducing the outside world’s worst actions.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The professional embarrassments even take place at the level of state supreme courts.—
Martin Kaste,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2026
-
That’s not only because judges are fining more lawyers for their laziness, but because the publicity about these embarrassments has been inescapable.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balks. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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