stymie
or sty·my, sti·my
[stahy-mee]
- 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.
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- to hinder, block, or thwart.
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Origin of stymie
First recorded in 1855–60; origin uncertain
Synonyms
See more synonyms for stymie on Thesaurus.com3. stump, mystify, frustrate, confound.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for stymie
Contemporary Examples
Both America's and Iran's regional clients are now openly attempting to stymie the process of rapprochement.
From 2009 through 2012, Capitol Hill Republicans were highly imaginative in their efforts to stymie President Obama.
Corporations figure out our ‘bliss spots,’ manipulate the USDA, and stymie anyone who opposes them.
And as many of the wealthy women are well known, their public persona can stymie the process.
Would that derail or at least stymie the popularity of remaking old movies?
Historical Examples
The simplest and most frequent is the waiving of the lost stroke for a stymie.
The Spirit of the LinksHenry Leach
Of the Stymie, let it be said, that as it always has been a freak of the game, so let it continue to be.
A stymie, is when the opponent's ball is on the line of your own putt.
Well, the first thing to be done is to get rid of Loudon's stymie with the authorities.
HuntingtowerJohn Buchan
Duncan took his mashie and played the stymie shot perfectly, "just in the usual way."
The Soul of GolfPercy Adolphus Vaile
stymie
stymy
- to hinder or thwart
- golf to impede with a stymie
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- 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
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Word Origin
C19: of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for stymie
1834, (n.), "condition in which an opponent's golf ball blocks the hole," perhaps from Scottish stymie "person who sees poorly," from stime "the least bit" (c.1300), of uncertain origin (Icelandic cognate skima is attested from c.1685). The verb, in golf, is from 1857; general sense of "block, hinder, thwart" is from 1902.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper