stymie

verb

ˈstī-mē How to pronounce stymie (audio)
Definition of stymienext
as in to impede
to create difficulty for the work or activity of the raging blizzard stymied the rescuers' attempts to find the stranded mountain climbers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of stymie In the Atlantic, that means there is more wind shear and air that pushes downward, both of which stymie cyclone development. — Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026 The sweeping Senate proposal unveiled Wednesday afternoon by leaders of key energy and environmental committees would rewrite project review rules and speed up legal challenges that consistently stymie large energy and transportation projects. — Evan Halper, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026 Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas, and its history of dictatorship, political upheaval and foreign intervention has long stymied the consolidation of democratic rule. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026 Under Vought’s leadership, the CFPB attempted to fire roughly 90% of its staff in April 2025 before a federal court ruling stymied the move. — Joel Jacobs, ProPublica, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stymie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stymie
  1. impede
  2. hinder
  3. hamper
  4. embarrass
  5. obstruct
Verb
  • But a judge has now paused construction across the region, giving a major boost to landowners who have sought to impede the wall by refusing to cooperate with government surveyors, protesting at county meetings and gearing up for court battles.
    — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The insects tunnel their way into the trunk, impeding the tree’s water and nutrient supply and killing it within a year.
    — Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of impede
Verb
  • The chair of Fayette County Democrats, Tracy Wilson, said the Uniontown Police Department is already short-staffed and underfunded and believes the program could hinder officers from answering calls.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Celebrity guests accompany the contestants, ideally helping and not hindering them, to an all-or-nothing final, where one test decides everything, including the true identity of the player.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of hinder
Verb
  • Another option via the Danube river has been hampered by low water levels; and a key bridge out of Ukraine has been damaged.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Aside from demanding that fans in the Pacific time zone set their alarms for an ungodly early start to their Sunday viewing slate, the International Series games have been hampered by NFL Network’s status as a basic-cable channel.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of hamper
Verb
  • Reese said the exercise left her upset with Smesko and worried about embarrassing herself in front of the team.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Over two games in Tampa, the Rays had embarrassed the Yankees – nearly no hitting them in Game 1 and putting the ball in play and watching the errors ensue in Game 2.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of embarrass
Verb
  • This view is shared by several other exchange operators, which oppose the CFTC’s creation of granular rules meant to obstruct affiliates.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In addition to the outstanding warrants, the suspects also face charges for theft and obstructing peace officers.
    — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of obstruct

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stymie
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Cite this Entry

“Stymie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stymie. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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