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

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

Britain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, nonetheless went on for another 18 months, while those generals continued to stonewall.

From Salon • Jul. 30, 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