stonewall

[stohn-wawl]

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in stonewalling.

2. British.,  filibuster.

3. Cricket.,  (of a batsman) to play a defensive game, as by persistently blocking the ball instead of batting it for distance and runs.

verb (used with object)

1. Informal.,  to block, stall, or resist intentionally.

   lobbying efforts to stonewall passage of the legislation.

2. British.,  to obstruct (the passage of a legislative bill) in Parliament, especially by excessive or prolonged debate.

adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of stonewalling.

   a new round of stonewall tactics.

stonewall

/ ˌstəʊnˈwɔːl /

verb

1. (intr) cricket (of a batsman) to play defensively

2. to obstruct or hinder (parliamentary business)

Other Word Forms

• stonewaller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stonewall¹

v. and adj. use of noun phrase stone wall

Example Sentences

Lawyers for Kahn and Indyke said they hadn’t stonewalled discovery requests and have turned over hundreds of thousands of pages to private plaintiffs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley spent much of the hearings interjecting on how Democrats had, in his view, stonewalled investigations into the Biden family's business dealings.

Read more on BBC

On a series in the second quarter, he limited a swing pass to Isaac Guerendo to a one-yard gain, then stonewalled the 49ers running back at the line of scrimmage on the next play.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ms Brownlie said "that makes it more frustrating" when her requests through the formal processes have been "stonewalled".

Read more on BBC

"Senators who voted to stonewall U.S. ingenuity today face a simple choice: Either step up and lead or watch digital asset innovation move offshore."

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• rebuff