thwart
1 of 4verb
transitive verb
thwart
2 of 4adverb
thwart
3 of 4adjective
thwart
4 of 4noun
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Thwart and its synonyms foil and frustrate all suggest checking or defeating another's plan or preventing the achievement of a goal. Foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage future efforts ("the police foiled the attempted robbery"), while frustrate suggests making all efforts, however vigorous or persistent, futile or ineffectual ("frustrated attempts at government reform"). Thwart usually indicates frustration caused by opposition ("the army thwarted an attempted coup").
Synonyms
Verb
- baffle
- balk
- beat
- checkmate
- discomfit
- foil
- frustrate
Example Sentences
Carolyn Y. Johnson, Anchorage Daily News, 23 Aug. 2022 Another option may be a version of the vaccine designed to thwart the omicron variant, or one that has a mix of several variants. The New York Times, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2022 The Journal has reported that the industry is funding Chinese semiconductor and other high-tech industries that support the Chinese military at a time when China is testing hypersonic missiles designed to thwart U.S. missile defenses. Hunter Lewis, WSJ, 2 Feb. 2022 Delivery giant FedEx is asking federal regulators for permission to install countermeasures in its cargo jets designed to thwart missile attacks, according to a notice published in the Federal Register. Ken Dilanian, NBC News, 14 Jan. 2022 In November 2020, Microsoft unveiled Pluton, a security processor that the company designed to thwart some of the most sophisticated types of hack attacks. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2022 The clinics and Department of Justice counter that judges have authority to stop a state from enacting a blatantly unconstitutional statute that was designed particularly to thwart judicial review. Joan Biskupic, CNN, 31 Oct. 2021 The group yielded 186 yards on the ground against Kansas City, but that was at least partially because of a specific scheme designed to thwart big plays. Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2021 The RedHawks’ Phoenix Tani had a sack to thwart a Hoover possession in the fourth quarter. John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2022 Justin Ray, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2021 Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 29 Aug. 2022 Intrepid girls outwit rogues, thwart empires, and rescue abused and vulnerable animals in four novels for readers ages 10 to 14. Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 6 May 2022 An outfitter named Craig had rented me the 15-foot canoe with a broken thwart, splintering gunwales, and the tanker toilet. Florence Williams, Outside Online, 1 Feb. 2022 English borrowed thwart from Old Norse around the 12th century. Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Dec. 2021 Since 1736, the noun thwart has referred to the pieces of wood or metal that reinforce the hulls of canoes and boats. Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Dec. 2021 How much does the government's role thwart innovation to address actual on the ground issues? Roger Valdez, Forbes, 1 Sep. 2021 Luckily, this episode ends up being just as positive as the party was, after Justin and Griffin thwart Travis’s doldrums and move on to doling out free and funny advice. Pablo Goldstein, Vulture, 1 July 2021 Serving as captain of the maintop of the U.S.S. Pawnee in the attack upon Mathias Point, 26 June 1861, Williams told his men, while lying off in the boat, that every man must die on his thwart sooner than leave a man behind. Drew Broach | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, 10 Nov. 2020 See More Word History
Verb
Middle English thwerten, from thwert, adverb
Adverb
Middle English thwert, from Old Norse thvert, from neuter of thverr transverse, oblique; akin to Old High German dwerah transverse, oblique
Noun
alteration of obsolete thought, thoft, from Middle English thoft, from Old English thofte; akin to Old High German dofta rower's seat
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Adverb
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun
circa 1736, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
thwart
verb
thwart
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- frustrate
- hamper
- prevent
- hinder
- baffle
- defeat
- impede
- overcome
- foil
- stop
- obstruct
- balk
- halt
- checkmate
- inhibit
- discomfit
- beat
- forestall
- preclude
- block
- avert
- nullify
- obviate
- counteract
- neutralize
- arrest
- hobble
- encumber
- shackle
- negate
- stall
- conquer
- handicap
- set back
- clog
- hold back
- tie up
- check
- bar
- offset
- trammel
- fetter
- short-circuit
- manacle
- interfere (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- promote
- encourage
- assist
- forward
- advance
- foster
- cultivate
- aid
- further
- facilitate
- nurture
- abet
- ease
- smooth
Synonym Chooser
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 synonyms baffle and thwart are sometimes interchangeable, but baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.
The meanings of balk and thwart largely overlap; however, balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.
In some situations, the words foil and thwart are roughly equivalent. However, foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.
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.