stymie

/ˈstaɪmi/

Say it: STY-mee

1. verb To prevent or hinder the progress of; to block or thwart.
A lack of funding has stymied the research project.
2. noun In golf, a situation where an opponent's ball on the putting green blocks the path of one's own ball to the hole.
He found himself facing a difficult stymie on the 18th green.

📖 Seen in the wild

Unexpected technical difficulties threatened to stymie the launch of the new software.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ stymie in a sentence

The defense attorney's clever tactics managed to stymie the prosecution.
I was completely stymied by the final riddle in the escape room.
Unforeseen regulatory hurdles have stymied the company's expansion into Europe.
She refused to let her humble beginnings stymie her ambition.
Progress on the peace talks has been stymied by a fresh outbreak of violence.
The quarterback was stymied by the defensive line all afternoon.
Don't let fear of failure stymie your creativity.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

thwart hinder impede obstruct foil frustrate block stall

thwart · suggests actively and often cleverly defeating a plan or purpose.

hinder · implies creating difficulties or delays rather than stopping something completely.

impede · a more formal term for slowing progress by placing obstacles in the way.

obstruct · focuses on the act of blocking a path, either literally or figuratively.

Opposites: aid, assist, facilitate, abet, support

🌱 Where it comes from

Stymie has a surprisingly specific origin: the game of golf. Until 1952, the rules allowed for a 'stymie', a situation where an opponent's ball landed on the putting green directly in the path of your own. This frustrating obstacle gave us the verb 'to stymie', which expanded from the golf course to mean blocking or hindering any kind of progress.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

stymie effortsstymie progressstymied by a lack ofcompletely stymiedan attempt to stymiestymie an investigation

Stymie is a vivid word for bringing something to a frustrating halt. While more formal synonyms like 'impede' or 'obstruct' exist, 'stymie' often carries a stronger sense of deadlock or puzzlement. It is more common in American English than British English. Though its origins are in golf, you do not need to know anything about the sport to use it correctly, as the connection is now mostly a historical footnote.

Word family: stymied, stymieing

💬 Quick answers

What does 'stymie' mean?

To stymie something means to block it, get in its way, or prevent it from making progress. It often implies a frustrating halt to some effort or plan.

What's the difference between 'stymie' and 'thwart'?

'Thwart' often implies a direct and often clever action taken to defeat a specific plan. 'Stymie' can describe being blocked by a person, but just as often by a situation, a lack of resources, or a complex problem.

Is 'stymie' a formal word?

Stymie is a neutral word that is acceptable in both formal and informal contexts. It is common in journalism and academic writing but also used in everyday conversation.

Where does the word 'stymie' come from?

The word comes from the game of golf, where a 'stymie' was a situation where an opponent's ball blocked your path to the hole. This specific meaning of being blocked was then generalized.

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