stonewall

American  

[stohn-wawl] / ˈstoʊnˌwɔl /

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in stonewalling.

2. British. filibuster.

3. Cricket. (of a batsman) to play a defensive game, as by persistently blocking the ball instead of batting it for distance and runs.

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verb (used with object)

1. Informal. to block, stall, or resist intentionally.

   lobbying efforts to stonewall passage of the legislation.

2. British. to obstruct (the passage of a legislative bill) in Parliament, especially by excessive or prolonged debate.

adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of stonewalling.

   a new round of stonewall tactics.

stonewall British  

/ ˌstəʊnˈwɔːl /

verb

1. (intr) cricket (of a batsman) to play defensively

2. to obstruct or hinder (parliamentary business)

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Other Word Forms

• stonewaller noun

Etymology

Origin of stonewall

v. and adj. use of noun phrase stone wall

Example Sentences

“Harvard sued us. Harvard stonewalled us on document requests to which we were entitled. Harvard is defiant. And they’ve wasted time with settlement negotiations that I believe were not in good faith.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But Kornev is young and infused with an idealistic zeal, refusing to let these goons stonewall him.

From Los Angeles Times

The sheriff, Bonta said, “has delayed, stonewalled, and otherwise refused to work with us in good faith” and failed to provide most of the requested documents.

From Los Angeles Times

Kimberly would later become a powerful champion of parents who felt stonewalled and "lied to" by the authorities.

From BBC

"At the time I thought it was a stonewall penalty," said Hourihane.

From BBC

Related Words

• rebuff