Impede vs. thwart: what’s the difference?
The short answer
The word impede suggests causing a delay or slowing down progress, while thwart implies actively countering or preventing an action or plan from succeeding.
What they have in common
Both impede and thwart imply creating obstacles or obstructions to progress or achievement.
Examples
impede
- Heavy traffic can impede your journey to work.
- The new law might impede business growth.
- Her lack of confidence impedes her performance.
thwart
- The hero’s efforts thwarted the villain’s plan.
- Security forces managed to thwart the attack.
- They worked hard to thwart the competitors’ advances.
Which one is more common?
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