thwart

1 of 4

verb

ˈthwȯrt 

thwarted; thwarting; thwarts

transitive verb

1

a

: to oppose successfully : defeat the hopes or aspirations of

b

: to run counter to so as to effectively oppose or baffle : contravene

2

: to pass through or across

thwarter noun

thwart

2 of 4

adverb

ˈthwȯrt 

nautical often

ˈthȯrt 

: athwart

thwart

3 of 4

adjective

: situated or placed across something else : transverse

thwartly adverb

thwart

4 of 4

noun

: a seat extending athwart a boat

Did you know?

Try to compile a long list of words in English that begin with “thw,” and prepare to be thwarted in your attempt: there aren’t many, and a goodly portion of those that do exist, such as thwartwise and the now-obsolete thwartsaw, start with thwart itself. Today we mostly use thwart as a verb to mean “to defeat or oppose successfully” but a lesser-known meaning of the word is “to pass through or across.” And it’s that sense that points to the origin of this odd-sounding word. In early Middle English, thwert was an adverb meaning “across” or “transversely,” used to describe how something lies across the length of something else. The verb thwerten came from this adverb and eventually became thwart. The link between the meanings becomes clear if you think of thwarting a plan, effort, etc., as blocking a road or path, thereby impeding another’s progress. And if you’re at cross-purposes with someone, you two are mutually—even if unintentionally—thwarting each other’s plans.

Synonyms

Verb

• baffle
• balk
• beat
• checkmate
• discomfit
• foil
• frustrate

Choose the Right Synonym for thwart

frustrate, thwart, foil, baffle, balk mean to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal.

frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

Examples of thwart in a Sentence

Verb

She did all she could to thwart his plans.

The army thwarted the attempt at a coup.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Invest in community colleges, where a gigantic proportion of American students are but where a lack of resources often thwarts their ambitions. —Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024

During Trump’s first term, California had some success in thwarting his plans and policies. —Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024

Adjective

In communities where adversity can just as easily mold resilience as thwart ambition, such pragmatism is critical. —Ebony Flake, Essence, 10 July 2024

States had been using that federal aid to cut down on wait times for jobless benefits, thwart identity theft and replace computer systems that in some cases were more than half a century old — the very lapses that the GAO has identified as risk factors for fraud. —Tony Romm, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023

Noun

The app’s arrival on mobile devices might also help thwart scammers. —Lauren Goode, WIRED, 18 May 2023

This can enable organizations to deliver a coordinated response and thwart cyberattacks. —Etay Maor, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English thwerten, from thwert, adverb

Adverb

Middle English thwert, from Old Norse thvert, from neuter of thverr transverse, oblique; akin to Old High German dwerah transverse, oblique

Noun

alteration of obsolete thought, thoft, from Middle English thoft, from Old English thofte; akin to Old High German dofta rower's seat

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1736, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

thwart

1 of 4 verb

ˈthwȯ(ə)rt 

1

: to stand in the way of : hinder by opposing

she thwarted me at every opportunity

2

: to defeat the hopes, desires, or plans of

the goalie thwarted their attempts to score

thwarter noun

thwart

2 of 4 adverb

ˈthwȯ(ə)rt 

nautical often

ˈthȯ(ə)rt 

: across entry 1 sense 1

thwart

3 of 4 adjective

: situated or placed across something else

thwart

4 of 4 noun

: a rower's seat extending across a boat

Etymology

Verb

Middle English thwerten (verb) "oppose, hinder," from thwert (adverb) "across"

Adverb

Middle English thwert "across"; of Norse origin