thwart

verb

ˈthwȯrt How to pronounce thwart (audio)
Definition of thwartnext
as in to frustrate
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Such an assault might thwart Russia’s own interests, prompting Europe to accelerate its military buildup and target Moscow’s sovereign assets. — Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2026 After Jackson helped thwart a terror attack in Times Square in 2010, to his surprise, Parton came to visit him again after seeing him on TV. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Others have genuine accessibility issues, from those who don’t live close to movie theaters to superfans thwarted by rights deals that block their geographic locations from showing a movie or series. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for thwart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thwart
  1. frustrate
  2. hamper
  3. prevent
Verb
  • Conservative political analyst Melik Abdul agreed with Tindell, telling CNN as a Black Mississippi native he has been frustrated by how Crump has zeroed in on race in the Wells case.
    — Ryan Young, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Jolly has pitched himself to voters as someone offering a tent for Floridians who are independents, Republicans and Democrats frustrated with the status quo of a political zeitgeist that prioritizes polarization and stokes riots rather than uniting.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustrate
Verb
  • As families wait for news about their relatives, damaged roads, power outages and fears of further flooding have hampered rescue efforts.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Analysts point out that on one hand, droughts can hamper hydroelectric generation, while high temperatures raise cooling demand and strain power grids.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hamper
Verb
  • Gen 4 is also designed to add an Active Safety Mechanism intended to prevent thermal runaway by stabilizing electrode active materials at high temperatures.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The international treaty prevents countries from sending people to nations where they could be harmed.
    — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of prevent

Browse Nearby Words

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thwart
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Cite this Entry

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

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