thwart

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb thwart differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of thwart are baffle, balk, foil, and frustrate. While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

When is baffle a more appropriate choice than thwart?

The synonyms baffle and thwart are sometimes interchangeable, but baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

When is it sensible to use balk instead of thwart?

The meanings of balk and thwart largely overlap; however, balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

In what contexts can foil take the place of thwart?

In some situations, the words foil and thwart are roughly equivalent. However, foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

When could frustrate be used to replace thwart?

The words frustrate and thwart are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

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 thwart In Game 3 on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, the Celtics started off strong and immediately thwarted any thought of the Knicks putting Boston on the brink of elimination. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025 Celgene realized early on that this could also be a tool to thwart competition. David Armstrong, CNN Money, 10 May 2025 While Guimaraes perhaps does not read danger quite as well as Tonali, the Brazilian still possesses an impressive ability to thwart dangerous counter-attacks. Chris Waugh, New York Times, 9 May 2025 Other institutions have made similarly drastic moves, according to court filings in lawsuits that aim to thwart the cuts. Evan Bush, NBC news, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for thwart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thwart
Verb
  • Alex Caruso, the 6-foot-5 defensive savant who spent so much of the evening frustrating the 6-11 Nikola Jokić, was the real MVP of the night (Jokić had 20 points on 5-of-9 shooting, with nine rebounds, seven assists and five turnovers).
    Sam Amick, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • The naming practices can frustrate efforts to track the chemicals in food, to measure how much of the stuff people are taking in, and even to figure out precisely which chemicals a scientific study evaluated, researchers said.
    David Hilzenrath, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • 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, 17 May 2025
  • Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • Sanders signed legislation last month that prevents drug middlemen from owning pharmacies in Arkansas.
    Lucas Dufalla, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2025
  • As usual, handling the environment and dimensions of Dodger Stadium will be key, from catchers preventing balls in the dirt from going to the backstop to outfielders making catches in the sun.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Thwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thwart. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

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