stone·wall
ˈstōn-ˌwȯl 
stonewalled; stonewalling; stonewalls
1
chiefly British
: to engage in obstructive parliamentary debate or delaying tactics
2
: to be uncooperative, obstructive, or evasive
: to refuse to comply or cooperate with
stonewaller
noun
1
: a fence made of stones
especially
: one built of rough stones without mortar to enclose a field
2
: an immovable block or obstruction (as in public affairs)
Examples of stonewall in a Sentence
Verb
They stonewalled until they could come up with a response.
They were just stonewalling for time.
They're trying to stonewall the media.
We're trying to get the information, but we're being stonewalled.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jesse Bedayn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
In late 2015, after Tehran stonewalled the IAEA’s investigation into the possible military dimensions of its nuclear program, Washington joined its partners on the 35-nation IAEA Board of Governors in voting unanimously to remove discussion of such investigations from its agenda.
—Tzvi Kahn, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2017
Steven Potter, Outside Online, 19 Nov. 2024
The ancient Roman town, encircled by stone walls, evokes the Medieval opulence of the Targaryen stronghold in the NH Collection Cáceres Palacio de Oquendo.
—Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Aug. 2024
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Verb
Boebert has said that her intractable politics — stonewalling the January 2023 vote to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House speaker for a series of concessions, for example — are promises kept on the campaign trail.
—Jesse Bedayn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
In late 2015, after Tehran stonewalled the IAEA’s investigation into the possible military dimensions of its nuclear program, Washington joined its partners on the 35-nation IAEA Board of Governors in voting unanimously to remove discussion of such investigations from its agenda.
—Tzvi Kahn, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2017
Noun
On the slopes above these pastures are groves of huge, mossy trees, and between the groves, sturdy stone walls climb straight up the fells and carve the mountainsides into great vertical paddocks.
—Steven Potter, Outside Online, 19 Nov. 2024
The ancient Roman town, encircled by stone walls, evokes the Medieval opulence of the Targaryen stronghold in the NH Collection Cáceres Palacio de Oquendo.
—Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stonewall
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Cite this Entry
“Stonewall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stonewall. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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