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

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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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stymies
  1. impedes
  2. hinders
  3. hampers
  4. embarrasses
  5. obstructs
Verb
  • The farmers said the smoke impedes their hay operation, as the haze blocks the sunlight necessary to dry the hay out.
    — The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2026
  • The majority opinion, written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, largely adopted the First Amendment argument that the limit impedes political parties’ ability to advocate for their candidates.
    — John J. Martin, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
Definition of impedes
Verb
  • Less interaction hinders collective knowledge and empathy, potentially worsening mental health.
    — Tracy Brower, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Neptune retrograde hinders our intuition, leaving us lost in the fog.
    — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 15 July 2026
Definition of hinders
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
  • Graft inquiry embarrasses Zelensky Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said in a Telegram announcement that the investigation into Yermak is ongoing.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
  • Now the technology embarrasses an umpire even more than a player could, and what’s the recourse?
    — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of embarrasses
Verb
  • Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2026
  • Anatasia steals a truck and obstructs their path, sacrificing herself to a bleak future, all in the name of love.
    — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 10 July 2026
Definition of obstructs

Browse Nearby Words

stymieing
stymies
suasion
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on stymies

Nglish: Translation of stymies for Spanish Speakers

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