as in frustrated
to prevent from achieving a goal
a coalition of grassroots organizations thwarted the company's efforts to get approval for a new power plant
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Recent Examples of thwarted
But season-ending injuries to Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt and Harris, coupled with Hampton being undermined by ankle injuries, thwarted meaningful year-over-year gains (122 yards per game in 2025; 111 in 2024).
—
Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Boldy had picked off a pass while shorthanded early in the game and had made a rush to the Panthers net that was thwarted.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
The Ducks had a chance to extend their lead to three but Grubauer’s poke check thwarted Harkins’ penalty shot after Ryan Lindgren held Harkins on a breakaway.
—Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
And the old hands who know their way around the Washington labyrinth mostly see the Tech Hamiltonians as a menace to be thwarted, and so use their talent and knowledge to work against rather than for the new regime.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
After their plan is thwarted, Ro and Nix flee the armored truck that was supposedly transporting the money.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
One of the pain points that has thwarted textile-to-textile recycling at scale is the preponderance of elastane that’s blended into everything from denim to leggings.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
MacDonough recently thwarted an attempt to include a Boundary Waters provision in a budget reconciliation package.
—Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 Jan. 2026
Injuries have thwarted Buffalo’s deficient receiver group and top tight end Dalton Kincaid all season.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Boldy had picked off a pass while shorthanded early in the game and had made a rush to the Panthers net that was thwarted.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
The Ducks had a chance to extend their lead to three but Grubauer’s poke check thwarted Harkins’ penalty shot after Ryan Lindgren held Harkins on a breakaway.
—Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
And the old hands who know their way around the Washington labyrinth mostly see the Tech Hamiltonians as a menace to be thwarted, and so use their talent and knowledge to work against rather than for the new regime.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
After their plan is thwarted, Ro and Nix flee the armored truck that was supposedly transporting the money.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
One of the pain points that has thwarted textile-to-textile recycling at scale is the preponderance of elastane that’s blended into everything from denim to leggings.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
MacDonough recently thwarted an attempt to include a Boundary Waters provision in a budget reconciliation package.
—Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 Jan. 2026
Injuries have thwarted Buffalo’s deficient receiver group and top tight end Dalton Kincaid all season.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thwarted
Verb
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Gonzales-Gutierrez was among the city council members frustrated after Mayor Johnston used his authority to enter into the short-term extension and requested that the mayor's office run any future decisions on surveillance technology past the city council.—
Chierstin Roth,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
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Some were frustrated that a rising tide in the stock market didn’t lift the Bitcoin boat.—
Joe Wilkins Published Jan 29,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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With Frimpong sidelined, Conor Bradley out for the rest of the season with a knee injury and Joe Gomez still hampered by a hip problem, Slot has a major headache at right-back.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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Medical timeout Alcaraz was as close as two points from victory in the third set but was hampered by pain in his upper right leg and his medical timeout became contentious.—
John Pye,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Later novels routinely took inspiration from family members or former or current lovers; the 1980 novel that baffled Frank Kermode is a dreamlike fable about a man guiltily trying to have an extramarital affair.—
Christopher Tayler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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Instead, Chan's team taught Liu how to juggle, which baffled her.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After months of surveillance, their plot was foiled.—
Katrina Kaufman,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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No one even lives here, said Chuky, trying to light a cigarette but foiled by a laugh.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thwarted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thwarted. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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