stymie

[stahy-mee] / ˈstaɪ mi /

VERB

frustrate, hinder

Synonyms

STRONGEST

choke off crimp foil impede obstruct stall stonewall thwart

STRONG

balk block confound corner crab cramp defeat mystify nonplus pigeonhole prevent puzzle shelve snooker stump

WEAK

cramp one's style cut off dead-end give the runaround hang fire hang-up hold off hold up put on back burner put on hold throw a monkey wrench into

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abet advance aid assist forward help support

STRONG

allow clarify clear up enlighten explain explicate let go release

WEAK

encourage

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Another issue with the potential to stymie talks from the beginning is the crucial oil shipping passage the Strait of Hormuz.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

It was supposed to improve information-sharing, not stymie it.

From Salon • Mar. 5, 2026

Officials have not yet released the identities of any victims, and extreme weather in the area has continued to stymie efforts to search for the missing body, or even to retrieve those already confirmed dead.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

“Gold’s recovery back above $5,000 threatens to stymie any crypto rebound before it even gets going,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

It shied each perplexing stymie With infinite nerve and ease; And bored right on through the landscape As if it were loath to cease.

From The Scrap Book, Volume 1, No. 6 August 1906 by Various

Vocabulary lists containing stymie

Hatchet

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This Week in Words: February 16 - 22, 2019

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An Excerpt from "The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead

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