BALK Synonyms: 124 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'balk' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of balk are baffle , foil , frustrate , and thwart . While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances. // officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

Q: When is 'baffle' a more appropriate choice than 'balk'?

The words baffle and balk are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling. // baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

Q: When can 'foil' be used instead of 'balk'?

The synonyms foil and balk are sometimes interchangeable, but foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort. // foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

Q: When would 'frustrate' be a good substitute for 'balk'?

The words frustrate and balk can be used in similar contexts, but frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent. // frustrated attempts at government reform

Q: When is it sensible to use 'thwart' instead of 'balk'?

While in some cases nearly identical to balk , thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing. // the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

balk 1 of 2

noun

Definition of balk

as in obstacle

something that makes movement or progress difficult the constant interruptions proved to be a balk to the flow of conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

balk

2 of 2

verb

ˈbȯk

as in to frustrate

to prevent from achieving a goal a young man with big dreams who refused to be balked by the many challenges he faced in making them a reality

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb balk differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of balk are baffle, foil, frustrate, and thwart. While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

When is baffle a more appropriate choice than balk?

The words baffle and balk are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

When can foil be used instead of balk?

The synonyms foil and balk are sometimes interchangeable, but foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

When would frustrate be a good substitute for balk?

The words frustrate and balk can be used in similar contexts, but frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

When is it sensible to use thwart instead of balk?

While in some cases nearly identical to balk, thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

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 balk

Noun

The Royals initially got a third run in the frame via a Vodnik balk that scored Jensen from third, but after the umpires met to discuss, it was overturned. — Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2026 The balk that wasn’t called a balk put the Cubs up in arms, and rightfully so, as Crow-Armstrong said. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026

Verb

After a home run by Cedric Mullins trimmed the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Cole Sulser yielded a leadoff single to slumping Angel Martínez in the ninth and balked him to second base. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 Some investors balked at its lack of a track record, while others were unnerved by Volta’s reliance on Anthropic to buy much of the data center’s compute. — Ellen Dimauro, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for balk

Recent Examples of Synonyms for balk

Noun

Icy weather, snowstorms, obstructive foliage and rugged terrain along the wild Rockies were just some of the obstacles Ben Nickell and Anne Koski faced on a 10-year journey to climb the highest point in each of Idaho’s 44 counties.

— Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 20 Oct. 2026
Long before launch, the team faced obstacles that nearly thwarted the endeavor — chiefly, two rejections from NASA — before finally securing the green light for the $1 billion project under the New Frontiers Program in 2011.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of obstacle

Verb

Some of his closest Middle East advisers, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, had grown frustrated with the Israeli leader.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Luka Doncic’s nonstop arguments with officials and trash talk may frustrate opponents, but his theatrical edge is part of what makes the Lakers star so compelling.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustrate

Noun

That's good news for home shoppers, but may not be enough to overcome the affordability hurdles keeping many prospective homebuyers out of the market.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
On Wednesday, the Republican House speaker acknowledged his party’s hurdles while stumping for congressional candidate Kevin Lincoln in Stockton in the Central Valley.

— Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of hurdle

Verb

Well, on Monday, Overshown put those doubts to rest by tying for the team lead with six tackles and recording a game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter to thwart a Philadelphia comeback attempt.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
This bipartisanship on attitudes about AI and data centers appears also to show up in alliances on the ground and, in some cases, in new organizations with a focus on thwarting data centers.

— Barbara A. Trish, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of thwart

Noun

Also, keep extra toilet paper visible, your hand soap full and some air freshener on the counter, so everyone can use the bathroom without embarrassment or disgust.

— Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
The league is a farce and an embarrassment to our country, not thier country.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of embarrassment

Noun

The subpoenas concern possible obstruction of justice in the handling of cases before federal judges, the source said.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2026
Robertson said those concerns include obstruction of pedestrian and car traffic, collisions into infrastructure, and effects on pets and children.

— Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of obstruction

Verb

Luigi Carbone, Pope Leo XIV's physician, said the pontiff's recovery from lung cancer surgery won't stop plans for a visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru involving a dozen flights and two helicopter rides to high altitudes.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Another to stop solving problems his team brings him and teach them to solve it instead.

— Ben Plomion, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of stop

Browse Nearby Words

bales

balk

balkanized

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“Balk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balk. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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verb

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Synonyms of balk

noun

verb

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