stymie
Halt someone's advance
Stymie means to block or frustrate progress.
Originally a golf term for when an opponent's ball lies between yours and the hole, it now describes any situation where someone or something obstructs your path forward: Budget cuts stymied the research project.
The word emphasizes being thwarted by circumstances rather than direct opposition.
Prevent success of
- blockSolid mass, or impede
- hinderObstruct or delay
- impedeTo obstruct movement
- hamperObstruct or clothes basket
foil · frustrate · obstruct · inhibit · stonewall · derail · halt · check
Something blocking the way
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
- roadblockObstruction across a road
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
hindrance · difficulty · setback · complication · predicament · dilemma · quandary · snag
Deliberate falsehood
- blockedPassage prevented or impeded
- stanceStanding posture or viewpoint
- treeWoody perennial plant
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
shot · recovery · unplayable · position · green · fairway · rough · approach
Confuse or perplex
- confoundTo thoroughly puzzle
- perplexCause utter confusion
- flummoxTo thoroughly confuse
- nonplusConfound beyond response
bewilder · exasperate · vex · dismay · dishearten · demoralize · discourage · defeat
thwart
Prevent success of
hamper · foil · frustrate · obstruct · inhibit · stonewall · derail · halt · check · curb
obstacle
Something blocking the way
impediment · hindrance · difficulty · setback · complication · predicament · dilemma · quandary · snag · catch
lie
Deliberate falsehood
obstacle · shot · recovery · unplayable · position · green · fairway · rough · approach
baffle
Confuse or perplex
nonplus · bewilder · exasperate · vex · dismay · dishearten · demoralize · discourage · defeat · disappoint