Thwart

Quick meaning: Thwart is an adjective meaning Placed or situated across something else; cross, oblique, transverse.

Meaning

Placed or situated across something else; cross, oblique, transverse.

More Meanings

1. (figuratively, dated) Of people: having a tendency to oppose; obstinate, perverse, stubborn.
2. (figuratively, dated) Of situations or things: adverse, unfavourable, unlucky.
3. (transitive) To cause to fail; to frustrate, to prevent.
4. (transitive, obsolete) To place (something) across (another thing); to position crosswise.
5. (transitive, also figuratively, obsolete) To hinder or obstruct by placing (something) in the way of; to block, to impede, to oppose.
6. (obsolete) Across the direction of travel or length of; athwart, crosswise, obliquely, transversely.
7. (archaic or poetic) Across, athwart.

Example Sentences

The police thwarted the would-be assassin.

Our plans for a picnic were thwarted by the thunderstorm.

The Underſtanding and Will never diſagreed; for the Propoſals of the one never thwarted the Inclinations of the other.

[…] and it is without all controuerſie, that learning doth make the minds of men gentle, generous, maniable, and pliant to gouernment; whereas Ignorance makes them churliſh, thwart, and mutinous; […]

Word Forms

• thwarts
• thwarting
• thwarted
• thwartest
• thwartedst
• thwarteth

Synonyms for thwart

Depending on context, synonyms include cross-grained, froward, adamant, ardent, grim, bloody-minded.

Antonyms for thwart

Common opposites include promote.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include spoil, frustrate, baffle, scotch, queer, cross.

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