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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 thwarted
Nicolas Pepe had a shot from roughly 10 yards out that was thwarted by Norway goalkeeper Orjan Haskjold Nyland with his leg.
—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 June 2026
The development of lifesaving medications can be thwarted by too much caution in not tolerating some potential side effects.
—
Dipesh Navsaria,
The Conversation,
29 June 2026
There's been some stumbling plays, thwarted by tripping and dramatic falls.
—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
27 June 2026
Part of the problem is that, outside of their tenants’ pleas, landlords face neither any real pressure nor any legal requirement to install shutters and ceiling fans; even owners who want to do so are thwarted by recalcitrant co-op boards or finicky historic-preservation reviews.
—
Henry Grabar,
The Atlantic,
27 June 2026
Most antibiotics are single bioactive molecules, and some can be thwarted with single mutations.
—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
26 June 2026
Starmer’s attempt to tackle Britain’s spiralling benefits bill was thwarted by his own MPs.
—
Ian King,
CNBC,
24 June 2026
England’s fierce attacks in the second half were thwarted by a resolute American defense and a series of saves by goalkeeper Frank Borghi.
—
Tushaar Kuthiala,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 June 2026
Belgium dominated possession in the first 60 minutes, but Iran still had a strong counterattack that was repeatedly thwarted by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who matched Beiranvand's results, if not his theatricality.
—
ABC News,
21 June 2026
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 June 2026
The development of lifesaving medications can be thwarted by too much caution in not tolerating some potential side effects.
—
Dipesh Navsaria,
The Conversation,
29 June 2026
There's been some stumbling plays, thwarted by tripping and dramatic falls.
—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
27 June 2026
Part of the problem is that, outside of their tenants’ pleas, landlords face neither any real pressure nor any legal requirement to install shutters and ceiling fans; even owners who want to do so are thwarted by recalcitrant co-op boards or finicky historic-preservation reviews.
—
Henry Grabar,
The Atlantic,
27 June 2026
Most antibiotics are single bioactive molecules, and some can be thwarted with single mutations.
—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
26 June 2026
Starmer’s attempt to tackle Britain’s spiralling benefits bill was thwarted by his own MPs.
—
Ian King,
CNBC,
24 June 2026
England’s fierce attacks in the second half were thwarted by a resolute American defense and a series of saves by goalkeeper Frank Borghi.
—
Tushaar Kuthiala,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 June 2026
Belgium dominated possession in the first 60 minutes, but Iran still had a strong counterattack that was repeatedly thwarted by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who matched Beiranvand's results, if not his theatricality.
—
ABC News,
21 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thwarted
Verb
-
Some women are frustrated, worried they are being left behind.
-
Yet from No Child Left Behind through the push for the Common Core into today’s zeal for science of reading, policy leaders are frustrated that the version of policy that occurs in the classroom does not match their vision.
Verb
-
Chwalińska took a medical timeout for an ankle injury at the end of the game and was clearly hampered by it for the rest of the match.
-
Securing reservations at elite restaurants and bars has become a competitive, multi-billion dollar market, often hampered by bots and fragmented systems.
Verb
-
His mother, Ahmani Hicks, describes him as a kid who loved sports, and she's baffled as to why her son was targeted.
-
Known as the Galactic Center Excess, a spherical gamma-ray glow extending out for thousands of light-years from the core of our galaxy, this high-energy light has baffled researchers for over a decade.
Verb
-
Comcast’s previous attempt to acquire Rupert Murdoch’s 20th Century Fox was foiled by Disney’s own master dealmaker, Bob Iger, who paid a handsome $71 billion in 2018.
-
McTominay’s next bid was foiled when his shot deflected off a closing Chadi Riad and into the side netting.
Cite this Entry
“Thwarted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thwarted. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
