Synonyms of stymies

stymies

verb

present tense third-person singular of stymie

as in impedes

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

• impedes
• hinders
• hampers
• embarrasses
• obstructs
• inhibits
• handicaps
• short-circuits
• blocks
• disrupts
• encumbers
• hobbles
• interferes (with)
• delays
• restrains
• thwarts
• constrains
• frustrates
• clogs
• cramps
• ties up
• stifles
• holds back
• trammels
• shackles
• fetters
• hog-ties
• handcuffs
• balks
• binds
• curbs
• gives a hard time
• ties
• retards
• cramps one's style
• retains
• reins
• manacles
• sabotages
• holds up
• strangles
• brakes
• derails
• baffles
• chains
• smothers
• checks
• suffocates
• roadblocks
• chokes
• arrests
• tethers
• bogs (down)
• represses
• confines
• blockades
• barricades
• foils
• suppresses
• mires
• leashes
• stumps
• hedges (in)
• halters
• muzzles
• hems (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• helps
• facilitates
• aids
• assists
• opens
• clears
• liberates
• frees
• encourages
• promotes
• releases
• loosens
• unties
• unclogs
• unplugs
• smooths
• furthers
• makes way
• unstops

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stymies

The property tax has long been Connecticut’s Gordian knot, a seemingly intractable problem that overburdens middle- and low-income households, stymies business growth and creates great K-12 education disparities between cities and suburbs. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026

They are stuck in a system that favors big, slow-moving pharmaceutical companies and stymies smaller, more nimble researchers. — Kevin J. Morrison, Mercury News, 19 May 2026

Keller stymies defending champ Coppell Claire Garritson scored the game-winning goal in the second half and Keller hung on to beat defending state champion Coppell 2-1 in the Class 6A Division 1 Region 1 Final on Tuesday night at Keller High School. — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026

This stymies Floridians who want to know if they are being treated fairly, or if state regulators are pursuing potential violations with appropriate vigor. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026

The impossibility of keeping up breeds apathy and stymies opposition. — Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026

But competition sometimes stymies talent. — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026

Deflation often stymies growth by discouraging consumption. — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2025

Uncertainty stymies hiring Through August, monthly job gains average 74,750, BLS data shows. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025