stymie

Sometimes sty·my

[stahy-mee]

verb (used with object)

stymied, stymieing 

1. to hinder, block, or thwart.

   Synonyms: confound, stump, frustrate, perplex

noun

1. a situation or problem presenting such difficulties as to discourage or defeat any attempt to deal with or resolve it.

2. 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.

stymie

/ ˈstaɪmɪ /

verb

1. to hinder or thwart

2. golf to impede with a stymie

noun

1. 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

2. a situation of obstruction

Word History and Origins

Origin of stymie¹

First recorded in 1855–60; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of stymie¹

C19: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

A report reveals additional ways fire crews were stymied in efforts to get enough water to fight the Palisades fire in January.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It's a wearying cycle of failure from a team that's still stymied by its own weak psychology.

Read more on BBC

The U.S. has restricted exports of semiconductors to China, in an effort to stymie its rival’s technological development.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Paramount wants to avoid piling on the debt, which is what stymied Zaslav’s efforts to build Warner into a streaming giant.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But she also expressed disappointment about regulatory limits that stymie the company's ability to export its chips to China, saying the US "must win the support of every developer" including those in China.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• choke off 
• crimp 
• foil 
• impede 
• obstruct 
• stall 
• stonewall 
• thwart