thwart

American  

[thwawrt] / θwɔrt /

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.

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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 British  

/ θwɔːt /

verb

1. to oppose successfully or prevent; frustrate

   they thwarted the plan

2. obsolete to be or move across

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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

Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

• thwartedly adverb
• thwarter noun
• unthwarted adjective
• unthwarting adjective

Etymology

Origin of thwart

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”

Example Sentences

Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike sell a range of security services under one umbrella, and both have made a series of acquisitions in the past year intended to bolster their platforms to thwart AI threats.

From Barron's

The rest of “Two Prosecutors” will concern the myriad forces conspiring to thwart his efforts.

From Los Angeles Times

Golden Dome is a closely watched project for thwarting airborne attacks on the U.S. and its territories.

From The Wall Street Journal

According to Kenya's foreign ministry, the two countries will begin efforts to "thwart human trafficking, smuggling and illegal recruitment" to the Russian war effort.

From BBC

The Saudi defence ministry said Monday it had thwarted a drone attack targeting an oil field in the kingdom's east, near the Emirati border.

From Barron's

Related Words

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