checkmates

verb

present tense third-person singular of checkmate
as in frustrates
to prevent from achieving a goal finally checkmated the billionaire in his attempt to take over the movie studio

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for checkmates
  1. frustrates
  2. baffles
  3. hampers
  4. thwarts
  5. defeats
Verb
  • Fallback that requires manual intervention or user choice introduces friction that frustrates legitimate users and can be socially engineered by bad actors.
    — Gegham Azatyan, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • What frustrates me is when the CTA isn’t there.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
Definition of frustrates
Verb
  • Meanwhile, McGrew agreed to adjustments, including adding baffles to reduce sound from a attached generator for the tower and replacing tower fencing that incorporated barbed wire with taller, more natural looking fencing.
    — Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
  • Using humane methods like squirrel baffles and tree nets can effectively keep squirrels out of your fruit trees.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026
Definition of baffles
Verb
  • Neighbors of the state park who have become accustomed to spontaneous visits found that the new system hampers their ability to make a last-minute trip.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
  • Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Definition of hampers
Verb
  • As a consequence of its sheer polyphonic complexity, Moby-Dick thwarts simple interpretation.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • In this way, immigration enforcement policy thwarts reproductive autonomy.
    — Jallicia Jolly, The Conversation, 15 June 2026
Definition of thwarts
Verb
  • David overcomes Goliath while Odysseus defeats the cyclops Polyphemus.
    — Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Costly defeats If past is prologue, Democratic insiders are right to be concerned.
    — David M. Drucker, Mercury News, 15 July 2026
Definition of defeats
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.

Browse Nearby Words

checkmated
checkmates
checkmating
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Cite this Entry

“Checkmates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/checkmates. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on checkmates

Nglish: Translation of checkmates for Spanish Speakers

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