stymie

sty·mie also sty·my  (stm)

tr.v. sty·mied (-md), sty·mie·ing also sty·my·ing (-m-ng), sty·mies (-mz)

To thwart; stump: a problem in thermodynamics that stymied half the class.

n.

1. An obstacle or obstruction.

2. Sports A situation in golf in which an opponent's ball obstructs the line of play of one's own ball on the putting green.

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[Origin unknown.]

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stymie

Verb

[-mieing, -mied]

to hinder or foil (someone): the President was stymied by a reluctant Congress

Noun

pl -mies

Golf (formerly) a situation in which an opponent's ball is blocking the line between the hole and the ball about to be played [origin unknown]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	stymie - a situation in golf where an opponent's ball blocks the line between your ball and the hole stymy situation, position - a condition or position in which you find yourself; "the unpleasant situation (or position) of having to choose between two evils"; "found herself in a very fortunate situation"
	2.	stymie - a thwarting and distressing situation stymy obstacle, obstruction - something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted; "lack of imagination is an obstacle to one's advancement"; "the poverty of a district is an obstacle to good education"; "the filibuster was a major obstruction to the success of their plan"
Verb	1.	stymie - hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of; "His brother blocked him at every turn" blockade, obstruct, stymy, embarrass, hinder, block stonewall - obstruct or hinder any discussion; "Nixon stonewalled the Watergate investigation"; "When she doesn't like to face a problem, she simply stonewalls" foreclose, forestall, preclude, prevent, forbid - keep from happening or arising; make impossible; "My sense of tact forbids an honest answer"; "Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project" filibuster - obstruct deliberately by delaying check - block or impede (a player from the opposing team) in ice hockey hang - prevent from reaching a verdict, of a jury bottleneck - slow down or impede by creating an obstruction; "His laziness has bottlenecked our efforts to reform the system"

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stymie

verb frustrate, defeat, foil, thwart, puzzle, stump, snooker, hinder, confound, mystify, balk, flummox, throw a spanner in the works Brit. (informal) nonplus, spike (someone's) guns