balking
Digging in heels
Balking is hesitating or refusing to proceed, especially at a critical moment.
A horse balks at a jump; a witness balks at testifying.
The word implies sudden resistance—you were moving forward, then stopped short.
In baseball, a balk is an illegal motion by the pitcher that allows runners to advance.
She kept balking at the idea of moving abroad.
Stubbornly refusing to yield
- obstinateFirmly refusing to yield
- intransigentRefusing to compromise
- obdurateStubbornly refusing to change
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
headstrong · willful · inflexible · unbending · recalcitrant · bullheaded · pigheaded · uncooperative
Disinclination to act
- disinclinationLack of desire
- aversionIntense dislike or repugnance
- warinessCautious distrust
- unwillingnessDisinclination to act
reticence · loathness · antipathy · defiance · noncompliance · recalcitrance · opposition · uncooperativeness
Inability to choose
- indecisionFailure to decide
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
dithering · stalling · tentativeness · ambivalence · misgivings · qualms · reservation · hesitancy
Complete sudden stop
- stopCease all motion
- standstillTotal cessation of movement
- checkOrder to pay
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
freeze · deadlock · stalemate · impasse · holdup · snag · hitch · block
Denial of acceptance
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- declinationAngular distance from equator
- vetoOfficial refusal to approve
- turndownAct of declining
rebuff · nix · dismissal · spurning · repudiation · nonacceptance · disallowance · negation
mulish
Stubbornly refusing to yield
- obstinateFirmly refusing to yield
- intransigentRefusing to compromise
- obdurateStubbornly refusing to change
unyielding · headstrong · willful · inflexible · unbending · recalcitrant · bullheaded · pigheaded · uncooperative · uncompromising
reluctance
Disinclination to act
- disinclinationLack of desire
- aversionIntense dislike or repugnance
- warinessCautious distrust
unwillingness · reticence · loathness · antipathy · defiance · noncompliance · recalcitrance · opposition · uncooperativeness · pushback
vacillation
Inability to choose
- indecisionFailure to decide
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
faltering · dithering · stalling · tentativeness · ambivalence · misgivings · qualms · reservation · hesitancy · uncertainty
halt
Complete sudden stop
- stopCease all motion
- standstillTotal cessation of movement
- checkOrder to pay
stall · freeze · deadlock · stalemate · impasse · holdup · snag · hitch · block · interruption
rejection
Denial of acceptance
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- declinationAngular distance from equator
- vetoOfficial refusal to approve
turndown · rebuff · nix · dismissal · spurning · repudiation · nonacceptance · disallowance · negation · disapproval
- reluctancereluctance, unwillingness, disinclination, hesitation, reticence
- queuesqueue, waiting line, lineup, waiting list, wait list
- Horse Problemscribbing, weaving, bucking, rearing, biting
- baseball incidentserror, ejection, interference, obstruction, wild pitch
- animal behaviorsswimming, running, walking, jumping, flying
- hesitatingpausing, stalling, wavering, faltering, delaying
balkingcomplying
Following rules or requests
agreeing · acquiescing · consenting · yielding · assenting
balkingembracing
Holding warmly, willingly accepting
welcoming · leaping at · jumping at · plunging in · diving in
balkingfacilitating
Making something simpler
enabling · aiding · assisting · helping · supporting