thwart

[ thwawrt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to oppose successfully; prevent from accomplishing a purpose.

   Synonyms: obstruct, hinder

2. to frustrate or baffle (a plan, purpose, etc.).
3. Archaic.
   1. to cross.
   2. to extend across.

noun

1. a seat across a boat, especially one used by a rower.
2. a transverse member spreading the gunwales of a canoe or the like.

adjective

1. passing or lying crosswise or across; cross; transverse.
2. perverse; obstinate.
3. adverse; unfavorable.

preposition

1. across; athwart.

thwart

/ θwɔːt /

verb

1. to oppose successfully or prevent; frustrate

   they thwarted the plan

2. obsolete.
   to be or move across

noun

1. nautical a seat lying across a boat and occupied by an oarsman

adjective

1. passing or being situated across
2. archaic.
   perverse or stubborn

preposition

1. obsolete.
   across

Derived Forms

• ˈthwarter, noun
• ˈthwartedly, adverb

Other Words From

• thwarted·ly adverb
• thwarter noun
• un·thwarted adjective
• un·thwarting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thwart¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English thwert (adverb), from Old Norse thvert “across,” neuter of thverr “transverse”; cognate with Old English thweorh “crooked, cross,” Gothic thwairhs “cross, angry”

Word History and Origins

Origin of thwart¹

C13: from Old Norse thvert, from thverr transverse; related to Old English thweorh crooked, Old High German twerh transverse

Synonym Study

Thwart, frustrate, baffle imply preventing one, more or less completely, from accomplishing a purpose. Thwart and frustrate apply to purposes, actions, plans, etc., baffle, to the psychological state of the person thwarted. Thwart suggests stopping one by opposing, blocking, or in some way running counter to one's efforts. Frustrate implies rendering all attempts or efforts useless or ineffectual, so that nothing ever comes of them. Baffle suggests causing defeat by confusing, puzzling, or perplexing, so that a situation seems too hard a problem to understand or solve.

Example Sentences

An independent Paris publishing house, Les Arènes, is said to have had a skeleton staff working on the project to thwart leaks.

From The Daily Beast

“They made every effort they could to thwart the study at every turn,” she says.

From The Daily Beast

Sadly for the NRA, we are in the Information Age, and the truth is starting to regularly get past their efforts to thwart it.

From The Daily Beast

All Facebook will see is cyphertext—the mathematical gibberish computers generate to thwart spying eyes.

From The Daily Beast

For years, Google has been developing ways to help people living under oppressive regimes thwart online suppression.

From The Daily Beast

Who was he, indeed, that he should claim the right to thwart another's happiness, hinder another's best self-realisation?

From Project Gutenberg

Edna's desire to see Mademoiselle Reisz had increased tenfold since these unlooked-for obstacles had arisen to thwart it.

From Project Gutenberg

Catherine never went more directly to her own ends than in just such schemes which appeared to thwart them.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Gillis arranged for the evening meal at the Gillis home where plans could be made to thwart an invader.

From Project Gutenberg

He says the normal, healthy thing for her is to write, to write tremendous books, and she'll suffer if we thwart her.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• circumvent
• counter
• curb
• defeat
• foil
• frustrate
• hinder
• impede
• obstruct
• oppose
• prevent
• stop
• stymie