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 Musk previously ordered SpaceX engineers to shut off Starlink's satellite network over Crimea to thwart a Ukrainian attack on Russian warships, according to a chapter in the 2023 Musk biography written by Walter Isaacson. — Annie Palmer,lora Kolodny, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 Mattel thwarted restive shareholders by inviting one of them to come inside and play. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Just weeks after the experiment ended, a prison uprising at Attica Correctional Facility in New York was thwarted with deadly force, resulting in 43 deaths. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 21 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 See All Example Sentences for thwart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thwart
  1. frustrate
  2. hamper
  3. prevent
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
Verb
  • Ukrainian officials said the restrictions hampered ⁠the military’s ability to intercept Russian ​attack ⁠drones and forced the cancellation of some operations.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The officials said the restrictions were disrupting high-speed military drones, hampering Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian attacks and conduct operations along the front line.
    — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of hamper
Verb
  • Riyadh said the discussions were aimed at keeping diplomatic channels open and preventing another escalation in hostilities.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Such a concentration of power could prevent the effective maintenance of checks and balances on policy decisions by institutions.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of prevent

Browse Nearby Words

thwacks
thwart
thwarted
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Cite this Entry

“Thwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thwart. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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