thwart

[thwawrt]

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of thwart¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of thwart¹

C13: from Old Norse thvert, from thverr transverse; related to Old English thweorh crooked, Old High German twerh transverse

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Sen. Carter Glass of Virginia called Mitchell’s action a “mutiny” that thwarted the government’s efforts to halt speculation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Marine Le Pen, whose far-right party declined to take part in talks with Lecornu this week, said Wednesday she would thwart all action by any new government and would "vote against everything".

Read more on Barron's

They argue any check by the judicial branch is an illegal power grab, aimed at thwarting response to a legitimate and growing “invasion from within.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She favors installing parental controls, even though wily children can outwit them, on grounds that some thwarting is better than none at all.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In a new book, “The Projects: A New History of Public Housing,” Mr. Husock explains that while we no longer build housing projects, the ones that remain continue to thwart the socioeconomic progress of residents.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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