stonewalling
Refusing to cooperate
Stonewalling is refusing to answer questions or cooperate, especially by being evasive or unresponsive.
Politicians stonewall investigations; a spouse stonewalls during arguments by shutting down communication entirely.
The term suggests a wall that blocks all progress: The committee accused the agency of stonewalling their requests for documents.
To stonewall is to engage in this behavior.
Delaying tactic through speech
- impedeTo obstruct movement
- thwartPrevent success of
- blockadeSealing off a place
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
delay · hinder · stymie · obstruct · frustrate · derail · hamper · forestall
Open resistance to authority
- refusalAct of declining
- intransigenceRefusal to compromise
- obstinacyUnyielding adherence to position
- recalcitranceStubborn refusal to obey
noncompliance · rejection · standoff · immovable · unyielding · stubborn · holdout · pushback
Turn from course
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
- evadeEscape by cunning
- sidestepEvade by moving aside
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
rebuff · parry · withholding · concealment · noncommittal · equivocate · prevaricate · runaround
Failing to react or reply
- tight-lippedUnwilling to divulge
- muteWithout voice or sound
- taciturnHabitually uncommunicative
- reticentDisinclined to speak freely
unforthcoming · noncommunicative · wordless · incommunicado · cold-shoulder · shutout · freeze-out · blank
Cessation of operations
- disconnectTo break a connection
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- cold-shoulderIntentional social rejection
- passive-aggressiveIndirectly expressing resentment
contempt · defensiveness · marriage · partner · spouse · therapy
filibuster
Delaying tactic through speech
stall · delay · hinder · stymie · obstruct · frustrate · derail · hamper · forestall · interfere
defiance
Open resistance to authority
- refusalAct of declining
- intransigenceRefusal to compromise
- obstinacyUnyielding adherence to position
recalcitrance · noncompliance · rejection · standoff · immovable · unyielding · stubborn · holdout · pushback · opposition
deflect
Turn from course
avoidance · rebuff · parry · withholding · concealment · noncommittal · equivocate · prevaricate · runaround · brush-off
unresponsive
Failing to react or reply
- tight-lippedUnwilling to divulge
- muteWithout voice or sound
- taciturnHabitually uncommunicative
reticent · unforthcoming · noncommunicative · wordless · incommunicado · cold-shoulder · shutout · freeze-out · blank · ignore
shutdown
Cessation of operations
- disconnectTo break a connection
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- cold-shoulderIntentional social rejection
passive-aggressive · contempt · defensiveness · marriage · partner · spouse · therapy
- bureaucracybureaucracy, bureaucrat, bureaucrats, red tape, civil service
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- acting outtantrums, tantrum, meltdowns, pouting, whining
- conflict responsesavoidance, confrontation, compromise, accommodation, aggression
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- dirty trickscheating, lying, deceit, trickery, deception
stonewallingopenness
Quality of being accessible
transparency · disclosure · full disclosure · candor · forthrightness
stonewallingengaging
Pleasantly attractive, compelling attention
responsiveness · active listening · emotional engagement · dialogue · receptiveness
stonewallingcooperation
Joint action toward shared aims
collaboration · compliance · facilitating · assisting · helping
stone, walling, wall, rocking, milestone, walled, wallpaper, gravestone, stoneware