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 The development of lifesaving medications can be thwarted by too much caution in not tolerating some potential side effects. — Dipesh Navsaria, The Conversation, 29 June 2026 Nicolas Pepe had a shot from roughly 10 yards out that was thwarted by Norway goalkeeper Orjan Haskjold Nyland with his leg. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026 Part of the problem is that, outside of their tenants’ pleas, landlords face neither any real pressure nor any legal requirement to install shutters and ceiling fans; even owners who want to do so are thwarted by recalcitrant co-op boards or finicky historic-preservation reviews. — Henry Grabar, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026 In 2025, Russia asked that Apple remove 1,213 apps—many of these VPN apps designed to thwart the country’s draconian Internet censorship. — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for thwart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thwart
  1. frustrate
  2. hamper
  3. prevent
Verb
  • Belgium looked limited and frustrated, with Leandro Trossard and Youri Tielemans heading into the second-half hydration break in the middle of an angry argument.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Its young people are increasingly educated and ambitious but many are frustrated over fierce competition for limited jobs.
    — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of frustrate
Verb
  • The decision severely hampered local planning for America’s 250th anniversary, disrupting history projects, museums and educational programs nationwide.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Chwalińska took a medical timeout for the injury at the end of the game, and she was clearly hampered by it for the rest of the match.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of hamper
Verb
  • Cloud cover prevented a California Highway Patrol helicopter from reaching the injured climber directly, forcing the rescue to unfold in stages.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Increasing staff at medical facilities during heat waves could also prevent unnecessary deaths.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of prevent

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Cite this Entry

“Thwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thwart. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on thwart

Nglish: Translation of thwart for Spanish Speakers

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