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

Derived Forms

• ˈthwarter, noun
• ˈthwartedly, adverb

Other Words From

• thwarted·ly adverb
• thwarter noun
• un·thwarted adjective
• un·thwarting 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

Johnson has shown no signs he will thwart Trump in any way, the conservative Christian instead deploying his moral authority to defend an alleged sexual predator.

From Salon

Last year, Mr Smith brought charges against Trump over the alleged mishandling of classified documents and his suspected role in attempting to thwart the transfer of power after the 2020 presidential election.

From BBC

The governor pushed back on the notion that Trump would thwart his plans, but said he wasn’t naive about “this being a very challenged environment” if Trump won.

From Los Angeles Times

Baca, who stepped down in 2014, was convicted of thwarting an investigation into his department’s troubled jail system and then lying to federal investigators about it.

From Los Angeles Times

The 1 October attacks were largely thwarted by Israel's military, but a small number struck central and southern Israel.

From BBC

Related Words

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