Stymie vs. thwart: what’s the difference?
The short answer
The word stymie is often used to describe situations where progress is blocked in a perplexing or stubborn way, more informal than “thwart.” Thwart suggests a more active opposition or defeat of plans, often implying direct interference.
What they have in common
Both words stymie and thwart mean to prevent or hinder the progress or accomplishment of something.
Examples
stymie
- The unexpected regulation change has stymied our project.
- We were stymied by the lack of clear instructions.
- Technical difficulties stymied our broadcast.
thwart
- She always manages to thwart their plans.
- They installed security measures to thwart any potential intruders.
- His efforts to thwart the investigation were unsuccessful.
Which one is more common?
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