stymie
or sty·my or sti·my
[ stahy-mee ]
/ ˈstaɪ mi /
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noun
Golf. (on a putting green) an instance of a ball's lying on a direct line between the cup and the ball of an opponent about to putt.
a situation or problem presenting such difficulties as to discourage or defeat any attempt to deal with or resolve it.
verb (used with object), sty·mied, sty·mie·ing.
to hinder, block, or thwart.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
Origin of stymie
First recorded in 1855–60; origin uncertain
Words nearby stymie
stylopize, stylopodium, stylops, stylostixis, stylus, stymie, Stymphalian birds, stymy, stype, stypsis, styptic
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for stymie
British Dictionary definitions for stymie
stymie
stymy
/ (ˈstaɪmɪ) /
verb -mies, -mieing, -mied, -mies, -mying or -mied (tr; often passive)
to hinder or thwart
golf to impede with a stymie
noun plural -mies
golf (formerly) a situation on the green in which an opponent's ball is blocking the line between the hole and the ball about to be played: an obstructing ball may now be lifted and replaced by a marker
a situation of obstruction
Word Origin for stymie
C19: of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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