Stymie Definition

stīmē
stymied, stymieing, stymies
verb
stymied, stymieing, stymies
To be an obstacle to; prevent the advancement or success of; thwart or stump.
Weather that stymied attempts to locate the missing hikers; a math problem that stymied half the class.
American Heritage
To hinder or obstruct as with a stymie.
Webster's New World
To block; impede.
Webster's New World

To thwart or stump; to cause to fail or to leave hopelessly puzzled, confused, or stuck.

They had lost the key, and the lock stymied the first three locksmiths they called.
Wiktionary
Antonyms:
noun
stymies
An obstacle or obstruction.
Wiktionary
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.
Webster's New World
Any situation in which one is obstructed or frustrated.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Stymie

Noun

Singular:
stymie
Plural:
stymies

Origin of Stymie

  • Originally, a golf ball obstructing one's line of play perhaps akin to Scots stymie person with poor vision (perhaps from styme) (in to se nocht ane styme not to see a glimmer (of something))

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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