checkmating

verb

present participle of checkmate
as in frustrating
to prevent from achieving a goal finally checkmated the billionaire in his attempt to take over the movie studio

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 checkmating In the event’s final game, Nakamura caught headlines by theatrically throwing reigning Classical world champion Gukesh Dommaraju’s king into the crowd after checkmating him. — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for checkmating
  1. frustrating
  2. thwarting
  3. hampering
  4. baffling
  5. defeating
  6. preventing
  7. stopping
Verb
  • But Algo’s hyper-logical, computerised process of consistently picking the favourites to win was undone in the second match of the day, with Ghana frustrating England in a 0-0 draw.
    — The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 24 June 2026
  • The documentary’s contradiction is right there, enthralling us with the wild achievements Potter pulled off and frustrating us with his bombast, leading us to ponder whether, as The Dark Wizard suggests, either could exist without the other.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 May 2026
Definition of frustrating
Verb
  • Oregon is one of the only states in the country with a carve-out in its public records law that prevents disclosing the financial details of subsidized housing projects, thwarting researchers and journalists who have tried to examine their costs.
    — Rob Davis, ProPublica, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Ed Yardeni isn’t worried about the sharp rise in sovereign bond yields thwarting stocks.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of thwarting
Verb
  • Birds visiting the feeder can get the goo on their wings, hampering their ability to fly and possibly leading to their untimely deaths.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Rescuers will use an extrication device and a helicopter, Fathur said, adding that there were no reports of people missing and no challenges hampering the search.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of hampering
Verb
  • Despite some protests about a dog contributing to the game, Buddy — clad in a bright blue jersey and two pairs of basketball kicks — scores baffling basket after baffling basket, leaving the other team shocked.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
  • While Loathe’s baffling compositional choices may jump out first, the album’s most glaring flaw is its production.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026
Definition of baffling
Verb
  • DeSoto won the Class 6A Division II state championship last season, defeating Southlake Carroll in the state semifinals.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Boise State started the season 1-1, losing 42-21 to Central Michigan before defeating Portland State 33-22 in a pair of nonconference games.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of defeating
Verb
  • According to Lupo, cost is the single biggest factor preventing California’s major cities from placing high.
    — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Although dates are naturally high in sugar, their fiber can slow digestion, preventing sugar from being absorbed quickly into the bloodstream.
    — Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of preventing
Verb
  • There is really no way to talk about the film unless one falls back on wispy vagaries and pointed allusions to cinematic precedents, or just explaining the act one set-up and then stopping with the warning that things get really weird thereafter.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Plain water can help remove waste from the blood into the urine, stopping kidney stones from forming.
    — Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of stopping

Browse Nearby Words

checkmates
checkmating
check (off)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Checkmating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/checkmating. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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