stymying
Getting in way
Stymying is blocking or thwarting progress.
The word comes from golf, where a stymie was an opponent's ball blocking your path to the hole—a situation now governed by different rules.
The figurative sense has outlasted the original: Budget cuts are stymying research efforts.
Also spelled stymieing.
Prevent success of
- foilDefeat a plan
- blockSolid mass, or impede
- hamperObstruct or clothes basket
- impedeTo obstruct movement
hinder · obstruct · derail · sabotage · forestall · preclude · prevent · inhibit
Something blocking the way
- roadblockObstruction across a road
- blockadeSealing off a place
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
impediment · hurdle · snag · stumbling block · barricade · obstruction · logjam · gridlock
Intense weary annoyance
- vexationFrustrated annoyance
- bafflementMental state of confusion
- consternationAnxious amazement causing paralysis
- dismayDistressed loss of courage
discouragement · defeat · setback · failure · dead end · standoff · stalemate · paralysis
thwart
Prevent success of
impede · hinder · obstruct · derail · sabotage · forestall · preclude · prevent · inhibit · curtail
obstacle
Something blocking the way
bottleneck · impediment · hurdle · snag · stumbling block · barricade · obstruction · logjam · gridlock · standstill
exasperation
Intense weary annoyance
- vexationFrustrated annoyance
- bafflementMental state of confusion
- consternationAnxious amazement causing paralysis
dismay · discouragement · defeat · setback · failure · dead end · standoff · stalemate · paralysis · inertia
stymyingenabling
Making something feasible
facilitating · helping · assisting · aiding · supporting
stymyingadvancing
Moving in forward direction
propelling · accelerating · expediting · unblocking · hastening