stymie

stymie Definition

sty·mie (stī′mē)

noun

Golf the condition that exists on a putting green when an opponent's ball lies in a direct line between the player's ball and the hole: since 1951, the obstructing ball may be picked up to permit a putt to be made
any situation in which one is obstructed or frustrated

Etymology: prob. a use of earlier Scot, a person partially blind < styme < ME stime (sense obscure): the reference is to the blind shot caused by a stymie

transitive verb stymied -·mied, stymieing -·mie·ing

to hinder or obstruct as with a stymie
to block; impede

stymie* Synonyms

stymie*

block, impede, obstruct, stump; see hinder.

stymie Usage Examples

Object

effort: Security is the utmost concern of prison officials, who are aware of some lawmakers ' attempts to stymie Internet efforts in prisons.
growth: He said Warner believes that the format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray would not stymie growth as many observers have been saying.
development: The two-tier system is likely to cause confusion and may stymie development.
reform: This cultural preoccupation with personal salvation stymies collective reform, and places an onerous burden on the individual.
process: MD should not be pursued in a way that stimulates an expansion in nuclear arsenals and which stymies the strategic arms control process.