stymie
/ˈstʌɪmi
/verb (stymies, stymieing, stymied) [with object] informal
Prevent or hinder the progress of: the changes must not be allowed to stymie new medical treatments...
- He is confident the job will be completed by the end of the year, and even sooner had not the horrendous weather of recent months stymied their progress.
- I'm now working out smarter and harder, busting through strength plateaus that had stymied my progress for years.
- In the Dark Ages, in Europe, while the Inquisition reigned, progress was stymied.
Synonyms
impede, interfere with, hamper, hinder, obstruct, inhibit, frustrate, thwart, foil, spoil, stall, shackle, fetter, stop, check, block, cripple, handicap, scotch
informal put paid to, put the kibosh on, snooker
British informal scupper, throw a spanner in the works of
North American informal throw a monkey wrench in the works of
Origin
Mid 19th century (originally a golfing term, denoting a situation on the green where a ball obstructs the shot of another player): of unknown origin.