thwart

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'thwart' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone is trying to prevent another person from achieving a task or objective. For example: "The teacher thwarted the student's attempts to cheat on the exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many schools hope to thwart the decades-long habit of rolling up the waistband of skirts by looking for new styles that can't be "customised".

The Guardian

The Rangers Supporters Trust has called in lawyers in an attempt to thwart his plans.

The Guardian - Business

Putin proceeded to suggest that the charges were an attempt to thwart the re-election of Fifa president Sepp Blatter and hinted that they were related to Russia hosting the 2018 World Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

To them, the word "referendum" generally meant a unionist trap, the sort used to thwart Scotland's constitutional ambitions rather than advance them.

The Guardian

Not only is Abbott trying to repeal Australia's world-leading carbon pricing policy, but he is trying to "thwart" the climate action objectives of our major ally, the USA.

The Guardian

Adam Bogdan kept them afloat in the opening half-hour, conjuring a flurry of superb interceptions and saves to thwart Callum Wilson and Matt Ritchie, but the visitors had still caved in by the time the contest has stretched to the interval.

The Guardian - Sport

Jack, don't pay your band!) is laughable, but it speaks volumes about the double standards with which the world tackles the music industry: you're damned if you play by the rules, and you're damned if you find a creative way to thwart them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Crown said: "I believe that many of the organisations that are most prominent in this campaign in trying to thwart reform will have substantial membership from Opus Dei".

The Guardian

Meanwhile, parliamentary villains Banastre Tarleton (Ciarán Hinds) and the Duke of Clarence (Toby Jones) thwart any attempts to end slavery.

The Guardian - Film

But concerns about a slowing economy, jobs, civil rights and a lack of progress in the Kurdish peace process appear to have combined with worries that Erdoğan could assume quasi-dictatorial powers to thwart the president's ambitions.

The Guardian

If the intention was to thwart the feminazis of the Guardian, however, it was the Sun's sister newspaper the Times which the move most obviously embarrassed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thwart" when you want to convey a deliberate action taken to prevent someone's plans or efforts from succeeding. It's stronger than simply hindering or delaying.

Common error

Avoid using "thwart" when you mean a mere delay or inconvenience. "Thwart" implies a more forceful and intentional opposition, not just a temporary setback.

Linguistic Context

The verb "thwart" primarily functions to express the action of preventing someone or something from accomplishing a goal or plan. Ludwig provides numerous examples where "thwart" is used to describe actions taken to obstruct or frustrate efforts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "thwart" is a versatile term used to describe the act of preventing someone's intentions or plans from succeeding. Ludwig AI confirms that its grammatical usage is correct and very common, particularly in contexts related to News & Media and Formal & Business environments. To effectively utilize "thwart", remember that it conveys a sense of intentional opposition rather than a mere delay. Avoid using it for simple setbacks. Alternatives include "foil", "frustrate", and "obstruct", each carrying slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevent

A general term for stopping something from happening.

foil

Implies successfully preventing a plan or attempt from succeeding.

frustrate

Emphasizes causing someone to feel annoyed or upset because they cannot achieve something.

impede

Focuses on slowing down or hindering progress, rather than complete prevention.

obstruct

Emphasizes creating a barrier or blockage to prevent movement or progress.

stop

Indicates bringing something to a halt or preventing it from continuing.

block

Highlights creating an obstacle to prevent passage or progress.

hinder

Highlights making it difficult for something to happen or someone to succeed.

stymie

Suggests presenting an obstacle that is difficult to overcome.

nullify

Highlights rendering something invalid or without legal force.

FAQs

How can I use "thwart" in a sentence?

You can use "thwart" to describe the act of preventing someone's plans or actions from succeeding. For example: "The new regulations "thwart attempts to" evade taxes".

What are some alternatives to "thwart"?

Alternatives to "thwart" include "foil", "frustrate", "impede", and "obstruct". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "thwarted by"?

Yes, "thwarted by" is a correct and commonly used passive construction. For example: "Their plans were "thwarted by" unexpected weather conditions".

What is the difference between "thwart" and "hinder"?

"Thwart" implies a more direct and forceful action to prevent something from happening altogether, while "hinder" suggests slowing down or making something more difficult but not necessarily impossible. Therefore, to "hinder" is to slow the pace, to "thwart" is to stop it completely.