thwart

American  

[thwawrt] / θwɔrt /

verb (used with object)

1. to oppose successfully; prevent from accomplishing a purpose.

   Synonyms:

   obstruct, hinder

2. to frustrate or baffle (a plan, purpose, etc.).

3. Archaic.

   1. to cross.

   2. to extend across.

---

noun

1. a seat across a boat, especially one used by a rower.

2. a transverse member spreading the gunwales of a canoe or the like.

adjective

1. passing or lying crosswise or across; cross; transverse.

2. perverse; obstinate.

3. adverse; unfavorable.

preposition

1. across; athwart.

thwart British  

/ θwɔːt /

verb

1. to oppose successfully or prevent; frustrate

   they thwarted the plan

2. obsolete to be or move across

---

noun

1. nautical a seat lying across a boat and occupied by an oarsman

adjective

1. passing or being situated across

2. archaic perverse or stubborn

preposition

1. obsolete across

Related Words

Thwart, frustrate, baffle imply preventing one, more or less completely, from accomplishing a purpose. Thwart and frustrate apply to purposes, actions, plans, etc., baffle, to the psychological state of the person thwarted. Thwart suggests stopping one by opposing, blocking, or in some way running counter to one's efforts. Frustrate implies rendering all attempts or efforts useless or ineffectual, so that nothing ever comes of them. Baffle suggests causing defeat by confusing, puzzling, or perplexing, so that a situation seems too hard a problem to understand or solve.

Other Word Forms

• thwartedly adverb
• thwarter noun
• unthwarted adjective
• unthwarting adjective

Etymology

Origin of thwart

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English thwert (adverb), from Old Norse thvert “across,” neuter of thverr “transverse”; cognate with Old English thweorh “crooked, cross,” Gothic thwairhs “cross, angry”

Example Sentences

Paramount has continued to make offers for Warner to thwart Netflix’s deal, arguing that its proposal is better, in part because it wants the entire company.

From The Wall Street Journal

At the age of 14, Jemma Williamson, travelled from Wirral to Chester to attend a band signing event - but her dreams of meeting the star were thwarted as she was unable to get in.

From BBC

By contrast, he’s more optimistic about organizations such as the Mayo Clinic, where the central bureaucracy doesn’t seem “spring-loaded to thwart innovation.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Anglo's bid to offload its loss-making company is not only being thwarted by the depressed market for mined diamonds, particularly in China, according to analysts.

From Barron's

Russian intelligence officials claimed they had thwarted an attempted attack on a Russian soldier in St Petersburg at the end of last month.

From BBC

Related Words

• circumvent
• counter
• curb
• defeat
• foil
• frustrate
• hinder
• impede
• obstruct
• oppose
• prevent
• stop
• stymie