as in frustrates
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 thwarts
Sam Houston comeback thwarts Irving Arlington Sam Houston scored three unanswered goals after trailing 2-0 in the first half against Irving on Friday night.
—
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2026
Unless her future self thwarts the plan, Steiner will mail a copy of Empty Chair to her estranged relative in hopes of reconciliation.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 29 Jan. 2026
But critics say too much state overreach ignores the distinct needs of different communities and thwarts local innovation.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 19 Dec. 2025
Impeding disclosure thwarts the very premise of public markets — that transparency fuels efficiency, competition, innovation, and trust.
—Andrew Behar, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
Hamnet — emotional, feminine, directed-by-an-Oscar-winner Hamnet — could still be the movie that thwarts them both.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
The views of the bridge and bay are alluring, even if the tall thick concrete thwarts any visceral connection to the shoreline.
—John King, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Nov. 2023
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2026
Unless her future self thwarts the plan, Steiner will mail a copy of Empty Chair to her estranged relative in hopes of reconciliation.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 29 Jan. 2026
But critics say too much state overreach ignores the distinct needs of different communities and thwarts local innovation.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 19 Dec. 2025
Impeding disclosure thwarts the very premise of public markets — that transparency fuels efficiency, competition, innovation, and trust.
—Andrew Behar, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
Hamnet — emotional, feminine, directed-by-an-Oscar-winner Hamnet — could still be the movie that thwarts them both.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
The views of the bridge and bay are alluring, even if the tall thick concrete thwarts any visceral connection to the shoreline.
—John King, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thwarts
Verb
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The person at the cash register has to stop helping other customers to try and track down the booth owner, which holds up the line and frustrates everybody.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
6 Apr. 2026
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Alesia and Mike’s constant absent-mindedness frustrates Jenna and Daisy.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That burden, along with the conventions of the true-crime genre, not to mention that of theater in service of a political point, sometimes hampers the interpretive space of the actors and the creative team, who have to spend a lot of their time getting the facts and the history across.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
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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,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This baffles and outrages Angela, a protective mom who, with other parents, pushes back against Gabor using her math classroom as a forum for introducing the outside world’s worst actions.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
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His disaffection baffles his acquaintances and pains his tubercular wife (a superb Quinn Jackson), whose doctor (Lambert Tamin) has only contempt for her husband’s agonizing.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thwarts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thwarts. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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