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

Explanation

To stonewall is to deliberately hold something up or delay it, especially by refusing to cooperate or answer questions. A big company might stonewall when its workers try to negotiate for higher pay — and your parents might stonewall when you try to negotiate for a higher allowance. A press secretary stonewalls when she avoids directly answering a reporter's pointed questions, and you stonewall when you change the subject rather than commit to visiting your grandma. The word stonewall was coined as a nickname for Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson, who was described as "standing like a stone wall" as the enemy approached. It was originally a noun, meaning "an act of obstruction."

Example Sentences

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that seeks to stonewall the project.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

“An avoidant person often doesn’t know when their nervous system is ignited,” says Abito, so they need to figure out their triggers and what happens in their body before they stonewall and shut down.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2023

Few could have expected the Huskies to stonewall the Ducks like that and equally surprising was Oregon coach Dan Lanning’s decision to eschew going for it on fourth down on three short-yardage situations.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2023

"If Treasury tries to stonewall our investigation again, we will continue to use tools at our disposal to compel compliance."

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2023

Several were sitting back on their haunches, their claws scraping at the chalky stonewall that flanked the waterfall.

From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• rebuff