Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense stymies, present participle stymieing, past tense, past participle stymied
verb [usually passive]
If you are stymiedby something, you find it very difficult to take action or to continue what you are doing.
[informal]
Companies have been stymied by the length of time it takes to reach an agreement. [beVERB-ed]
Relief efforts have been stymied in recent weeks by armed gunmen. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: frustrate, defeat, foil, thwart More Synonyms of stymie
stymie in British English
or stymy (ˈstaɪmɪ)
verbWord forms: -mies, -mieing, -mied, -mies, -mying or -mied(tr; often passive)
1.
to hinder or thwart
2. golf
to impede with a stymie
nounWord forms: plural-mies
3. golf
(formerly) a situation on the green in which an opponent's ball is blocking the line between the hole and the ball about to be played: an obstructing ball may now be lifted and replaced by a marker
4.
a situation of obstruction
Word origin
C19: of uncertain origin
stymie in American English
(ˈstaɪmi)
noun
1. Golf
the condition that exists on a putting green when an opponent's ball lies in a direct line between the player's ball andthe hole: since 1951, the obstructing ball may be picked up to permit a putt to be made
2.
any situation in which one is obstructed or frustrated
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈstymied or ˈstymieing
3.
to hinder or obstruct as with a stymie
4.
to block; impede
Word origin
prob. a use of earlier Scot, a person partially blind < styme < ME stime (sense obscure): the reference is to the blind shot caused by a stymie
Examples of 'stymie' in a sentence
stymie
It said that it had considered testing the fuels before but had been stymied by their lack of availability.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
These deficits, buybacks and cash takeovers have stymied the investment that the tax would supposedly encourage.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Rail plans are stymied, locked in court battles or simply put on hold.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He has yet to win a decisive victory against the London transport unions who have stymied his plans.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
A backlash against the flood of foreign investment entering China stymied the buyout.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
If the pastor stays longer than needed to accomplish the unique ministry, the church will feel stymied by a lack of leadership in other important areas.
Christianity Today (2000)
You'll get a deeper insight into what has stymied your home plans - and how you can put this right.
The Sun (2014)
It was forced to cancel the deal in August when the credit crunch stymied plans to raise 4 billion of debt funding for the venture.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
(verb)
Definition
to hinder or foil (someone)
Relief efforts have been stymied in recent weeks by armed gunmen.
Synonyms
frustrate
The government has deliberately frustrated his efforts.
defeat
The challenges of constructing such a huge novel almost defeated her.
foil
A brave police chief foiled an armed robbery.
thwart
They were doing all they could to thwart the opposition.
puzzle
What puzzles me is why nobody has complained before now.
stump
Well, maybe I stumped you on that one.
snooker
hinder
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
confound
For many years medical scientists were confounded by these seemingly contradictory facts.
mystify
There was something strange in her attitude that mystified me.
balk
flummox
This system has the potential to flummox most car thieves.
throw a spanner in the works (British, informal)
nonplus
spike (someone's) guns
Additional synonyms
in the sense of balk
Definition
to thwart, check, or foil
Synonyms
foil,
check,
bar,
defeat,
prevent,
frustrate,
baffle,
thwart,
hinder,
obstruct,
counteract,
disconcert,
forestall
in the sense of confound
Definition
to astound or bewilder
For many years medical scientists were confounded by these seemingly contradictory facts.
Synonyms
bewilder,
baffle,
amaze,
confuse,
astonish,
startle,
mix up,
astound,
perplex,
surprise,
mystify,
flummox,
boggle the mind,
be all Greek to (informal),
dumbfound,
nonplus,
flabbergast (informal)
in the sense of defeat
Definition
to thwart or frustrate
The challenges of constructing such a huge novel almost defeated her.
Synonyms
frustrate,
foil,
thwart,
ruin,
baffle,
confound,
balk,
get the better of,
forestall,
stymie
Nearby words of
stymie
style
stylish
stylus
stymie
suave
sub rosa
subconscious
Synonyms of 'stymie'
stymie
Explore 'stymie' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of flummox
Definition
to puzzle or confuse
This system has the potential to flummox most car thieves.
Synonyms
baffle,
confuse,
stump,
perplex,
defeat,
fox,
puzzle,
bewilder,
mystify,
stymie,
bamboozle (informal),
bring up short,
nonplus
in the sense of foil
Definition
to baffle or frustrate (a person or an attempt)
A brave police chief foiled an armed robbery.
Synonyms
thwart,
stop,
check,
defeat,
disappoint,
counter,
frustrate,
hamper,
baffle,
elude,
balk,
circumvent,
outwit,
nullify,
checkmate,
nip in the bud,
put a spoke in (someone's) wheel (British)
in the sense of hinder
Definition
to get in the way of (someone or something)
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
Synonyms
obstruct,
stop,
check,
block,
prevent,
arrest,
delay,
oppose,
frustrate,
handicap,
interrupt,
slow down,
deter,
hamstring,
hamper,
thwart,
retard,
impede,
hobble,
stymie,
encumber,
throw a spanner in the works,
trammel,
hold up or back
in the sense of mystify
Definition
to confuse, bewilder, or puzzle
There was something strange in her attitude that mystified me.
Synonyms
puzzle,
confuse,
baffle,
bewilder,
beat (slang),
escape,
stump,
elude,
confound,
perplex,
bamboozle (informal),
flummox,
be all Greek to (informal),
nonplus,
befog
in the sense of puzzle
Definition
to baffle or bewilder
What puzzles me is why nobody has complained before now.
Synonyms
perplex,
beat (slang),
confuse,
baffle,
stump,
bewilder,
confound,
mystify,
faze,
flummox,
bemuse,
nonplus
in the sense of stump
Definition
to baffle or confuse (someone)
Well, maybe I stumped you on that one.
Synonyms
baffle,
confuse,
puzzle,
snooker,
foil,
bewilder,
confound,
perplex,
mystify,
outwit,
stymie,
flummox,
bring (someone) up short,
dumbfound,
nonplus
in the sense of thwart
Definition
to prevent or foil
They were doing all they could to thwart the opposition.