Thwart
verb
Stop someone or something from doing what they wanted or planned to do.
He did everything he could to thwart her plans
Often appears as...
- thwart plans
- thwart attempts
preposition
From one side to the other of something.
He cut the apple thwart in half
Usage tips
Neutral
adjective
Sitting or standing in the direction that cuts something into half from one side to the other.
He sat thwart the bench
verb
Stop someone or something from doing what they wanted or planned to do.
He did everything he could to thwart her plans
Often appears as...
- thwart plans
- thwart attempts
preposition
From one side to the other of something.
He cut the apple thwart in half
Usage tips
Neutral
adjective
Sitting or standing in the direction that cuts something into half from one side to the other.
He sat thwart the bench
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Active Opposition
Often used when someone actively tries to prevent another's action, with effort and intent.
Activists worked to thwart the construction of the new dam.
Pro Tip 2/3Conflict Context
Commonly found in contexts where there is a conflict of interests or a competition.
She managed to thwart his takeover attempt of the company.
Pro Tip 3/3Goal Interruption
Implies an interruption or blocking of a goal, not just a delay.
His injury thwarted his chances of winning the marathon.
Pro Tip 1/3Active Opposition
Often used when someone actively tries to prevent another's action, with effort and intent.
Activists worked to thwart the construction of the new dam.
Pro Tip 2/3Conflict Context
Commonly found in contexts where there is a conflict of interests or a competition.
She managed to thwart his takeover attempt of the company.
Pro Tip 3/3Goal Interruption
Implies an interruption or blocking of a goal, not just a delay.
His injury thwarted his chances of winning the marathon.
Pro Tip 1/3Active Opposition
Often used when someone actively tries to prevent another's action, with effort and intent.
Activists worked to thwart the construction of the new dam.
Pro Tip 2/3Conflict Context
Commonly found in contexts where there is a conflict of interests or a competition.
She managed to thwart his takeover attempt of the company.
Pro Tip 3/3Goal Interruption
Implies an interruption or blocking of a goal, not just a delay.
His injury thwarted his chances of winning the marathon.
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Video examples
The history of the Cuban...
for Kennedy's and Khrushchev's ability to diplomatically solve the crisis. But the disturbing lesson was that a slight communication error, or split-second decision by a commander, could have thwarted all their efforts, as it nearly did if not for Vasili Arkhipov's courageous choice.
Video examples
How squids outsmart...
seabirds, fish, and even other squid. Indeed, squid themselves are fearsome ocean predators. But their most extraordinary adaptations are those that have evolved to help them thwart their predators. Squid, which can be found mainly in estuarine, deep-sea, and open-water habitats,
Video examples
How to Avoid Surveillance...
by criminals, by stalkers and by foreign intelligence agencies. And I don't want to live in that kind of world. And so right now, you probably have the tools to thwart many kinds of government surveillance already on your phones and already in your pockets,
Video examples
The pleasure of poetic...
Ultimately, this is the poet's balancing act, learning when to repeat and when to riff, when to satisfy expectations, and when to thwart them, and in that balance, it may be enough to remember we all live in a world of wild variation
Video examples
Tan Le: My immigration...
If there is a sinew in our family, it runs through the women. Given who we were and how life had shaped us, we can now see that the men that might have come into our lives would have thwarted us. Defeat would have come too easily.
Video examples
Are food preservatives...
help cut produce keep its color by thwarting the enzyme that causes browning. Some compounds like sulfites can multitask. They're both antimicrobials and antioxidants. Sulfites may cause allergy symptoms in some people,
Video examples
Can you solve the Trojan...
blocking Greeks from crossing. so we can thwart them by moving either one a column left into this square. and the same principle applies to the bottom arm. Your effort maintains the peace for the final 5 days.
Video examples
How in vitro fertilizatio...
The egg is the largest cell in the body and is protected by a thick, extracellular shell of sugar and protein called the zona pellucida. The zona thwarts the entry and fusion of more than one sperm,
Video examples
Killer Cone Snails PIPE...
middle a deadly proboscis concealed within the tip is a lethal weapon a harpoon loaded with the neurotoxic mix so complex there is no anti-venom to thwart it
Video examples
David Attenborough...
in an attempt to thwart garbage Raiders rubbish collection continues around the clock but raccoons equipped to take advantage
Video examples
The history of the Cuban...
for Kennedy's and Khrushchev's ability to diplomatically solve the crisis. But the disturbing lesson was that a slight communication error, or split-second decision by a commander, could have thwarted all their efforts, as it nearly did if not for Vasili Arkhipov's courageous choice.
Video examples
How squids outsmart...
seabirds, fish, and even other squid. Indeed, squid themselves are fearsome ocean predators. But their most extraordinary adaptations are those that have evolved to help them thwart their predators. Squid, which can be found mainly in estuarine, deep-sea, and open-water habitats,
Video examples
How to Avoid Surveillance...
by criminals, by stalkers and by foreign intelligence agencies. And I don't want to live in that kind of world. And so right now, you probably have the tools to thwart many kinds of government surveillance already on your phones and already in your pockets,
Video examples
The pleasure of poetic...
Ultimately, this is the poet's balancing act, learning when to repeat and when to riff, when to satisfy expectations, and when to thwart them, and in that balance, it may be enough to remember we all live in a world of wild variation
Video examples
Tan Le: My immigration...
If there is a sinew in our family, it runs through the women. Given who we were and how life had shaped us, we can now see that the men that might have come into our lives would have thwarted us. Defeat would have come too easily.
Video examples
Are food preservatives...
help cut produce keep its color by thwarting the enzyme that causes browning. Some compounds like sulfites can multitask. They're both antimicrobials and antioxidants. Sulfites may cause allergy symptoms in some people,
Video examples
Can you solve the Trojan...
blocking Greeks from crossing. so we can thwart them by moving either one a column left into this square. and the same principle applies to the bottom arm. Your effort maintains the peace for the final 5 days.
Video examples
How in vitro fertilizatio...
The egg is the largest cell in the body and is protected by a thick, extracellular shell of sugar and protein called the zona pellucida. The zona thwarts the entry and fusion of more than one sperm,
Video examples
Killer Cone Snails PIPE...
middle a deadly proboscis concealed within the tip is a lethal weapon a harpoon loaded with the neurotoxic mix so complex there is no anti-venom to thwart it
Video examples
David Attenborough...
in an attempt to thwart garbage Raiders rubbish collection continues around the clock but raccoons equipped to take advantage
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Claire Messud
American Novelist
As any of us approaches middle age, we inevitably come up against our limitations: the realization that certain dearly-held fantasies may not be realized; that circumstances have thwarted us; that even with intention and will we may not be able to set our ship back on the course we'd planned.
Quote examples
Bill Nelson
American Politician
We do not have the luxury of two big oceans protecting us as we have had in the past, for we now have a new kind of enemy who deals with stealthiness. Our ability to protect ourselves is having the information ahead of time so we can thwart the attack.
Quote examples
James Connolly
Scottish Politician
If you strike at, imprison, or kill us, out of our prisons or graves we will still evoke a spirit that will thwart you, and perhaps, raise a force that will destroy you! We defy you! Do your worst!
Quote examples
John O. Brennan
American Public Servant
As a former career intelligence professional, I have a profound appreciation for the value of intelligence. Intelligence disrupts terrorist plots and thwarts attacks. Intelligence saves lives.
Quote examples
Janet Reno
American Public Servant
We tried our best for the longest time to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the matter, and at each step, we were thwarted by those that said, No, we will not turn the boy over to his father.
Quote examples
Sabaa Tahir
Pakistani Writer
Like me as a teen - and like many teenagers now - my characters are at a peculiar crossroads in their lives. They desperately seek freedom. But at the same time, they are constantly thwarted.
Quote examples
Neil deGrasse Tyson
American Scientist
Adults, who outnumber kids four or five to one, are in charge. We wield the resources, run the world, and completely thwart kids' creativity.
Quote examples
Charles Horton Cooley
American Sociologist
The need to exert power, when thwarted in the open fields of life, is the more likely to assert itself in trifles.
Quote examples
Elizabeth Kenny
Australian Celebrity
I have a message to give to the world, and I shall not be thwarted.
Quote examples
Adam Grant
American Author
Creativity may be hard to nurture, but it's easy to thwart.
Quote examples
Claire Messud
American Novelist
As any of us approaches middle age, we inevitably come up against our limitations: the realization that certain dearly-held fantasies may not be realized; that circumstances have thwarted us; that even with intention and will we may not be able to set our ship back on the course we'd planned.
Quote examples
Bill Nelson
American Politician
We do not have the luxury of two big oceans protecting us as we have had in the past, for we now have a new kind of enemy who deals with stealthiness. Our ability to protect ourselves is having the information ahead of time so we can thwart the attack.
Quote examples
James Connolly
Scottish Politician
If you strike at, imprison, or kill us, out of our prisons or graves we will still evoke a spirit that will thwart you, and perhaps, raise a force that will destroy you! We defy you! Do your worst!
Quote examples
John O. Brennan
American Public Servant
As a former career intelligence professional, I have a profound appreciation for the value of intelligence. Intelligence disrupts terrorist plots and thwarts attacks. Intelligence saves lives.
Quote examples
Janet Reno
American Public Servant
We tried our best for the longest time to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the matter, and at each step, we were thwarted by those that said, No, we will not turn the boy over to his father.
Quote examples
Sabaa Tahir
Pakistani Writer
Like me as a teen - and like many teenagers now - my characters are at a peculiar crossroads in their lives. They desperately seek freedom. But at the same time, they are constantly thwarted.
Quote examples
Neil deGrasse Tyson
American Scientist
Adults, who outnumber kids four or five to one, are in charge. We wield the resources, run the world, and completely thwart kids' creativity.
Quote examples
Charles Horton Cooley
American Sociologist
The need to exert power, when thwarted in the open fields of life, is the more likely to assert itself in trifles.
Quote examples
Elizabeth Kenny
Australian Celebrity
I have a message to give to the world, and I shall not be thwarted.
Quote examples
Adam Grant
American Author
Creativity may be hard to nurture, but it's easy to thwart.
Example 1 of 10
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