stymie

verb

ˈstī-mē How to pronounce stymie (audio)
Definition of stymienext
as in to impede
to create difficulty for the work or activity of the raging blizzard stymied the rescuers' attempts to find the stranded mountain climbers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stymie In the Atlantic, that means there is more wind shear and air that pushes downward, both of which stymie cyclone development. — Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026 The sweeping Senate proposal unveiled Wednesday afternoon by leaders of key energy and environmental committees would rewrite project review rules and speed up legal challenges that consistently stymie large energy and transportation projects. — Evan Halper, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026 Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas, and its history of dictatorship, political upheaval and foreign intervention has long stymied the consolidation of democratic rule. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026 Under Vought’s leadership, the CFPB attempted to fire roughly 90% of its staff in April 2025 before a federal court ruling stymied the move. — Joel Jacobs, ProPublica, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stymie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stymie
  1. impede
  2. hinder
  3. hamper
  4. embarrass
  5. obstruct
Verb
  • Wheat had asked that the subpoenas be kept secret, so as not to impede an open investigation.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Garces Perez faces one count of assaulting, resisting and impeding a federal officer.
    — Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of impede
Verb
  • The chair of Fayette County Democrats, Tracy Wilson, said the Uniontown Police Department is already short-staffed and underfunded and believes the program could hinder officers from answering calls.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Celebrity guests accompany the contestants, ideally helping and not hindering them, to an all-or-nothing final, where one test decides everything, including the true identity of the player.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of hinder
Verb
  • Front-line workers have gone on strike several times since the outbreak began, further hampering efforts to contain the disease.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Bankers and lawyers here in Riyadh worry, though, that the latest effort, rather than fueling a revival of the Tadawul, may hamper it.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of hamper
Verb
  • But the Yanks are hot after embarrassing Boston with 9-0 and 9-2 victories in the Wild Card round.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Philadelphia embarrassed itself in a non-competitive loss at Chicago on Monday night, unable to go drive-for-drive with journeyman quarterback Case Keenum, a 38-year-old backup’s backup.
    — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of embarrass
Verb
  • An adult, child or animal can unintentionally roll onto the baby or otherwise obstruct the baby’s airway.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The construction of Terminal B also partially obstructed controllers’ views of two taxiways.
    — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of obstruct

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Cite this Entry

“Stymie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stymie. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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