stymie progress

USAGE SUMMARY

"stymie progress" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to hinder or prevent progress from being made. Example: The budget cuts have stymied progress on the construction of the new school, causing delays and setbacks.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Worried that Albany's fiscal woes could stymie progress, city officials have stepped up efforts to take over the project, now overseen by the Empire State Development Corporation.

The New York Times

A prolonged split in the party leadership would be problematic not only for China, Mr. Brown warned, but also for the global economy, and could stymie progress in efforts to gain greater access to China's vast domestic market as well.

The New York Times

British Airways BAA), which already owns 10% of Iberia and has right of first refusal on another 30%, could stymie progress, join forces with TPG, or mount a bid of its own.

The Economist

The statement said that the company's board "continues to believe in the urgent ecological necessity" of its plans, but that "ideological hostility" and "misrepresentations" would continue to stymie progress.

The New York Times - Tech

Environmental Justice and Sustainability in the Former Soviet Union makes clear that although fragile transition economies, varying degrees of democratization, and a focus on national security can stymie progress toward "just sustainability," the diverse states of the former Soviet Union are making some progress toward "green" and environmental justice issues separately.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In exchange for these payments, he used his tenure in the House of Representatives to stymie progress on climate action, curry favors for big oil and gas, and regularly spread misinformation and lies about climate science to help pad the Koch brothers' pocketbooks.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Two European officials involved in the discussions said the U.S. was stymieing progress on both.

Huffington Post

The President should not pass the opportunity to remind Republicans that they played a key role stymieing progress towards fixing an immigration system that is both dehumanizing as it is costly and ineffective.

Huffington Post

But, the rights don't last indefinitely because perpetual protection would stymie creative progress and innovation by precluding re-use.

University of California, Berkeley

The Israeli statements of intent, rejected by the Palestinians, were likely to further stymie any progress between the sides.

The New York Times

Plans continue to bring Slumdog Millionaire — another Beaufoy screenplay — to the stage, although creative differences and allegiances may yet stymie its progress.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "stymie progress", consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects the degree to which progress is being hindered. It implies a significant obstacle, not just a minor delay.

Common error

Avoid using "stymie progress" for trivial setbacks. The phrase is best reserved for situations where significant obstacles are preventing meaningful advancement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stymie progress" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, where "stymie" acts as a transitive verb taking "progress" as its direct object. This construction indicates the action of hindering or obstructing progress. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stymie progress" is a grammatically correct and useful expression for describing situations where something is hindering or blocking advancement. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and usable in written English. Although not extremely common, it appears in reputable sources across News & Media, Science, and Academia, making it suitable for neutral and formal contexts. When using the phrase, it's important to reserve it for significant obstacles that are genuinely impeding progress, and alternatives like "impede progress" or "hinder advancement" can be considered for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impede progress

Similar in meaning, but focuses more on slowing down rather than completely stopping progress.

hinder advancement

Emphasizes the act of making progress more difficult.

obstruct development

Focuses on blocking or preventing further growth or development.

inhibit growth

Highlights the suppression or restraint of growth.

thwart advancement

Implies a more forceful or deliberate act of preventing progress.

stall progress

Suggests causing a temporary halt or delay in progress.

block advancement

Indicates a complete prevention of forward movement.

derail momentum

Focuses on disrupting established forward movement or energy.

retard development

Implies slowing down or delaying the process of development.

cripple advancement

Suggests severely damaging or weakening the ability to progress.

FAQs

How can I use "stymie progress" in a sentence?

You can use "stymie progress" to describe situations where something is hindering or blocking advancement. For example: "Bureaucratic delays can "stymie progress" on important projects."

What are some alternatives to "stymie progress"?

Alternatives to "stymie progress" include "impede progress", "hinder advancement", or "obstruct development". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "stymie progress" or "halt progress"?

"Stymie progress" implies an obstacle that is difficult to overcome, while "halt progress" suggests a complete stop. The choice depends on whether the progress is merely hindered or completely stopped. If you want to imply an action that makes it harder for something to advance it would be better to use "stymie progress".

What does "stymie" specifically mean in the context of "stymie progress"?

In the phrase "stymie progress", "stymie" means to present an obstacle to or to block something. It suggests a forceful or significant impediment rather than a minor delay.