stymie

verb

sty·​mie ˈstī-mē 

stymied; stymieing

transitive verb

: to present an obstacle to : stand in the way of

stymied by red tape

Did you know?

Golf was being played in Scotland as early as the 15th century, but it wasn't until the 19th century that the sport really caught on in England and North America. It was also in the 19th century that the word stymie entered English as a noun referring to a golfing situation in which one player's ball lies between another ball and the hole on the putting green, thereby blocking the line of play. Later, stymie came to be used as a verb meaning "to bring into the position of, or impede by, a stymie." By the early 20th century, the verb was being applied in similarly vexing non-golf contexts.

Synonyms

• clog
• cramp
• embarrass
• encumber
• fetter
• hamper
• handcuff
• handicap
• hinder
• hobble
• hog-tie
• hold back
• hold up
• impede
• inhibit
• interfere (with)
• manacle
• obstruct
• shackle
• short-circuit
• tie up
• trammel

Examples of stymie in a Sentence

Progress on the project has been stymied by lack of money.

the raging blizzard stymied the rescuers' attempts to find the stranded mountain climbers

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, the many doctors and nurses who joined the medical profession hoping to do meaningful work are stymied; bias that is baked into the US healthcare system makes even individual attempts to do good within it a constant fight. —Lena Dunham, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2024

Several Democrats who have sought to advance women’s health research in their time in Congress expressed concern that a second Trump term would stymie the headway being made on the issue, however. —Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 1 Nov. 2024

Plans were stymied, alas, but thank goodness for rain! —Erik Kain, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

McDonald’s next steps immediately following stymieing the E. coli outbreak will be to examine and maybe alter its supply chain, Marler said. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Scots stimie, stymie to obstruct a golf shot by interposition of the opponent's ball

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

stymie

verb

sty·​mie ˈstī-mē 

stymied; stymieing

: to present an obstacle to : stand in the way of

an unexpected snowstorm stymied travelers' plans