stonewall

1 of 2

verb

stone·​wall ˈstōn-ˌwȯl 

stonewalled; stonewalling; stonewalls

intransitive verb

1

chiefly British : to engage in obstructive parliamentary debate or delaying tactics

2

: to be uncooperative, obstructive, or evasive

transitive verb

: to refuse to comply or cooperate with

stonewaller noun

stone wall

2 of 2

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

Verb

The Buckeyes stonewalled the Longhorns on first down, then tackled running back Quintrevion Wisner for a 7-yard loss on second down. —Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

So far, Yoon has stonewalled efforts by the CIO to interrogate him, refusing to attend questioning. —Reuters, CNN, 18 Jan. 2025

Noun

The house itself is buried under later buildings and even modern constructions, according to the study, but a stone wall from a few centuries later still remains. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2025

Much of the lower-level is covered in wallpaper depicting a stone wall, giving a cavelike feeling. —Jill P. Capuzzo, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1880, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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