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

• thwarter noun
• thwartedly adverb
• 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

For over a century, Mother Earth herself has thwarted every attempt to get at all but the most readily available sources of it.

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Nevertheless, security forces have successfully disrupted Islamic State cells in Damascus and thwarted planned attacks, said the ministry.

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“Violence is used to thwart the enforcement of federal law all the time. This happens every day.”

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Most absurd are progressive claims—magnified by the press—that Johnson is delaying a swearing-in to thwart her ability to force a vote in the narrow House on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

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Offering targeted relief to nations that erect barriers to Chinese exports and join a U.S.-led coalition can help thwart Beijing’s rare-earths power grab.

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Related Words

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