thwart

verb

\ ˈthwȯrt

thwarted; thwarting; thwarts

Definition of thwart

(Entry 1 of 4)

transitive verb

1a : to oppose successfully : defeat the hopes or aspirations of

b : to run counter to so as to effectively oppose or baffle : contravene

2 : to pass through or across

thwart

adverb

\ ˈthwȯrt

, naut often ˈthȯrt\

Definition of thwart (Entry 2 of 4)

: athwart

thwart

adjective

Definition of thwart (Entry 3 of 4)

: situated or placed across something else : transverse

thwart

noun

Definition of thwart (Entry 4 of 4)

: a seat extending athwart a boat

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Choose the Right Synonym for thwart

Verb

frustrate, thwart, foil, baffle, balk mean to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal. frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent. frustrated attempts at government reform thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing. the army thwarted his attempt at a coup foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort. foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling. baffled by the maze of rules and regulations balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances. officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

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Verb

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 ("foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her"), 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").

Examples of thwart in a Sentence

Verb

She did all she could to thwart his plans. The army thwarted the attempt at a coup.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Walter agrees to work with him, setting the film on its largely familiar procedural trek through shocking evidence of malfeasance, thwarted legal maneuvers and eventual triumph in a courtroom bathed in sunlight. — John Defore, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Just Mercy': Film Review | TIFF 2019," 7 Sep. 2019 Her remarkable 6-3, 7-5 victory, which capped her first appearance in the U.S. Open, thwarted the 37-year-old Williams’s latest attempt to match Margaret Court’s record of 24 major singles titles. — Christopher Clarey, New York Times, "Bianca Andreescu Wins the U.S. Open, Defeating Serena Williams," 7 Sep. 2019 The cousin apparently made attempts to contact help with towing the vehicle off the beach but the weather conditions thwarted his best efforts. — Fox News, "Jeep owner explains why vehicle was left on South Carolina beach during Dorian," 7 Sep. 2019 Chances were few and far between for the rest of the first-half, with tame shots not troubling David de Gea or Angus Gunn, while the offside flag also thwarted a few efforts. — SI.com, "Twitter Reacts as Manchester United Extend Winless Run Against 10-Man Southampton," 31 Aug. 2019 But the government imposes conditions that thwart the building of infrastructure and investment. — The Economist, "Why Colombia’s Pacific coast is so poor," 29 Aug. 2019 Stone’s interception with 3:25 left in the third quarter thwarted a Cardinal drive and gave the Wildcats a 36-25 advantage. — Ben Thomas | [email protected], al, "Florala converts 2 second-half turnovers into 36-34 victory over St. Michael in opener," 22 Aug. 2019 In 2019, men feeling thwarted and besieged is a bipartisan experience. — Devin Gordon, The Atlantic, "I Tried to Live Like Joe Rogan," 19 Aug. 2019 Was Bernadette an avatar of thwarted female creativity for her time or for ours? — Alexandra Lange, Curbed, "What ‘Where’d You Go, Bernadette?’ meant to me as a woman in architecture," 13 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Germany has previously had success with American intelligence information helping thwart plots, most notably in 2007 in stopping a plan to bomb the U.S. Air Force's Ramstein Air Base in southern Germany. — David Rising, Fox News, "German teenager arrested in gay club bomb attack plan," 13 Sep. 2018 The center yoke thwart is perfectly balanced for one-person portages. — The Editors, Outside Online, "REI Is Having an Huge Sale on Water Sports Gear," 18 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'thwart.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of thwart

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

History and Etymology for thwart

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

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More Definitions for thwart

thwart

Definition of thwart

Other Words from thwart

Synonyms & Antonyms for thwart

Choose the Right Synonym for thwart

Did You Know?

Examples of thwart in a Sentence

First Known Use of thwart

History and Etymology for thwart

thwart

Definition of thwart

Other Words from thwart

Synonyms & Antonyms for thwart

Choose the Right Synonym for thwart

Did You Know?

Examples of thwart in a Sentence

First Known Use of thwart

History and Etymology for thwart

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