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.

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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

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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

Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike sell a range of security services under one umbrella, and both have made a series of acquisitions in the past year intended to bolster their platforms to thwart AI threats.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The rest of “Two Prosecutors” will concern the myriad forces conspiring to thwart his efforts.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

In 2024, U.S. air defenders stationed in Japan got an urgent order: They were needed halfway across the world to help thwart ballistic-missile threats from Iran and its proxies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

However, he is on trial at Mold Crown Court with three other people who the prosecution said helped him attempt to "evade and thwart justice".

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

Then it began to make a slow hissing sound in the water and he still held it, bracing himself against the thwart and leaning back against the pull.

From "The Old Man and The Sea" by Ernest Hemingway

Related Words

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