stymie

stymie

The verb stymie means to obstruct or hinder. Constantly texting with your friends will stymie your effort to finish your homework.

Stymie was first used on the golf course in Scotland, where it referred to an opponent's ball blocking your own ball’s path to the cup. From there a verb sense developed, until finally stymie came to mean blocking with any obstacle, not just a golf ball.

Definitions of stymie

v hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of

Synonyms:: block, blockade, embarrass, hinder, obstruct, stymy

Types:: show 5 types...; hide 5 types...; stonewall
obstruct or hinder any discussion; filibuster
obstruct deliberately by delaying; check
block or impede (a player from the opposing team) in ice hockey; hang
prevent from reaching a verdict, of a jury; bottleneck
slow down or impede by creating an obstruction

Type of:: forbid, foreclose, forestall, preclude, prevent
keep from happening or arising; make impossible

n a thwarting and distressing situation

Synonyms:: stymy

Type of:: obstacle, obstruction
something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted

n a situation in golf where an opponent's ball blocks the line between your ball and the hole

Synonyms:: stymy

Type of:: position, situation
a condition or position in which you find yourself

v hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of

n a thwarting and distressing situation

n a situation in golf where an opponent's ball blocks the line between your ball and the hole

alternate spellings

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