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

Sixteen months of these thwarted attempts left us so thoroughly defeated that we had already done the unthinkable: We shopped.

From Salon

But some analysts have described the move as his bid to thwart political opposition.

From BBC

That tension has thwarted reform efforts since last century.

From Salon

In an effort to help Ukraine thwart Russian counterattacks in Kursk, the US, UK and France have all permitted Kyiv to use long-range weapons on targets inside Russia.

From BBC

On Wednesday, HTS and its allies said they had launched their offensive to “deter aggression” and “thwart the enemy’s plans”, accusing the government and allied Iran-backed militias of escalation and aggression in north-west.

From BBC

Related Words

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