stymie
Americanverb (used with object)
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stymies,
present (3rd person singular)
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stymied,
past participle, past
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stymieing
present participle
noun
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a situation or problem presenting such difficulties as to discourage or defeat any attempt to deal with or resolve it.
-
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.
verb
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to hinder or thwart
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golf to impede with a stymie
noun
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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
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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stymiesimple
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stymiessimple
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have stymiedperfect
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has stymiedperfect
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am stymieingprogressive
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are stymieingprogressive
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is stymieingprogressive
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have been stymieingperfect progressive
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has been stymieingperfect progressive
Past
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stymiedsimple
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had stymiedperfect
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was stymieingprogressive
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were stymieingprogressive
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had been stymieingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of stymie
First recorded in 1855–60; origin uncertain
Explanation
The verb stymie means "to obstruct or hinder." Constantly texting with your friends will stymie your effort to finish your homework. Stymie was first used on the golf course in Scotland, where it referred to an opponent's ball blocking your own ball’s path to the cup. From there a verb sense developed, until finally stymie came to mean blocking with any obstacle, not just a golf ball.
Vocabulary lists containing stymie
Hatchet
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Complications and byzantine controversies helped stymie the union in its adolescence, with Huerta usually supporting Chávez, even as he became distracted from the union’s central work and demanded absolute power.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
Setting emotions aside, the timing of childbirth for older parents can stymie their earning power.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
Another issue with the potential to stymie talks from the beginning is the crucial oil shipping passage the Strait of Hormuz.
From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026
It was supposed to improve information-sharing, not stymie it.
From Salon ● Mar. 5, 2026
We suspect them of stymies, for only the weight of tradition has held the stymie to us still, and for its power this tradition must be far extended.
From The Happy Golfer Being Some Experiences, Reflections, and a Few Deductions of a Wandering Golfer by Henry Leach
Europe’s lack of one big customer also stymies defense-tech newcomers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025
She said: “This is a disappointing and flawed approach that stymies crucial efforts to free Jimmy Lai and fundamentally undermines the government’s official position that he must be released.”
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2024
Redmond’s secret is mundane, but it’s one that often stymies elected officials: make a plan and stick with it.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 10, 2023
“We need to be able to break the gridlock that too often stymies progress and blocks consensus at the Council.”
From Washington Times ● Sep. 19, 2023
We suspect them of stymies, for only the weight of tradition has held the stymie to us still, and for its power this tradition must be far extended.
From The Happy Golfer Being Some Experiences, Reflections, and a Few Deductions of a Wandering Golfer by Henry Leach
Singapore enacted a Transboundary Haze Pollution Act in 2014, but enforcement has been stymied by jurisdictional barriers and challenges obtaining evidence from overseas.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026
They wrote the album during a rough time personally, as they struggled to get out of a stymied label deal that cost them four years between records.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
Gas importers in Asia, meanwhile, have turned to the U.S. since the Iran war has stymied shipments from Qatar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
But a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong in 2020 after huge pro-democracy protests has stymied dissent in the financial hub.
From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026
Having failed to locate any living witnesses, White found himself stymied, and Hale seemed aware that agents were onto him.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
They were so afraid of running out of money that it was stymieing their ability to enjoy today.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Another issue stymieing fundraising is the perception among some investors that they haven’t seen the desired liquidity from their Asian investments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
The landmark 56-year-old state law has been credited with helping to preserve California’s natural beauty and protecting communities from hazardous impacts of construction projects — but also blamed for stymieing construction.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 23, 2026
Second, at all levels of government, we must loosen regulations that are stymieing the construction and preservation of affordable homes.
From Slate ● Feb. 17, 2025
Faison thanked the officer on Monday for stymieing "what we believe were the original aims of this white supremacist domestic terrorist."
From Reuters ● Aug. 28, 2023
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