thwart the objective

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thwart the objective" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions or events that prevent or hinder the achievement of a specific goal or aim. Example: "The unexpected storm threatened to thwart the objective of completing the construction project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Moreover, Senate Democrats or Republican overreaching could easily thwart the objective of recording domestic achievements by 2004, and no one knows the political impact of a potential war with Iraq.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

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

"We've thwarted the main objective of the insurgency, but the enemy has a vote, and the moment you let your guard down, something bad will happen".

The New York Times

It is important to keep that in mind because Mr. Obama's victory celebration had barely ended before people were asking, "Now what?" There was speculation, in some quarters, that the energy had been drained out of Mr. Obama and his Congressional allies by the struggle against a Republican Party whose only objective seemed to be to thwart the president, no matter his objective.

The New York Times

In my view, judicial review of base closing decisions is inconsistent with this scheme because a successful challenge -- i.e., one that at least temporarily invalidates a base closing decision -- would thwart the scheme's fundamental objectives.

The New York Times

The bias that little can be done to affect the course of third world women disease, the lack of objective measureable data and the absence of evidence-based medicine thwart the ability of clinicians to effectively manage cancer and guide health policies in Africa.

BMC Women's Health

He would like to thwart the Norman Conquest.

The New Yorker

Only distributed countermeasures can thwart the new malicious hacking trend.

Network Security

Would Haspel thwart the president?

The Washington Post

It was to thwart the mobilizing troops.

The New York Times

Judicial fiat would thwart the will of the people.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "thwart the objective", ensure the context clearly establishes who or what is attempting to achieve the objective, and what forces are acting to prevent it.

Common error

Avoid using "thwart the objective" when a simple delay or minor setback occurs. "Thwart" implies a significant and often irreversible prevention of the goal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thwart the objective" functions as a verb phrase, where "thwart" acts as the verb and "the objective" serves as the direct object. It expresses the action of preventing something from happening, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

28%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "thwart the objective" is a grammatically sound and relatively uncommon expression used to describe the action of preventing a goal or aim from being achieved. As per Ludwig, it's generally considered correct and suitable for use in diverse contexts, including news, science, academia, and business, maintaining a neutral tone. To enhance your writing, consider the subtle differences between alternatives like "undermine the goal" or "obstruct the aim" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undermine the goal

Replaces "thwart" with "undermine", focusing on weakening rather than completely stopping the objective.

defeat the object

Uses "defeat" to highlight the failure in achieving the objective.

obstruct the aim

Substitutes both "thwart" and "objective" with synonyms, maintaining a similar level of formality.

prevent the achievement

Rephrases the idea to concentrate on stopping the final success.

hinder the purpose

Similar to "obstruct the aim", with a slight shift in connotation by using "hinder".

frustrate the intent

Emphasizes the feeling of dissatisfaction caused by preventing the objective.

sabotage the plan

Implies a more deliberate and malicious effort to prevent the objective, using stronger language.

impede the target

Focuses on slowing down or making the objective more difficult to reach.

nullify the intention

Highlights making the objective invalid or of no effect.

derail the mission

Suggests a complete abandonment of the original objective, often due to unforeseen circumstances.

FAQs

How can I use "thwart the objective" in a sentence?

You can use "thwart the objective" to describe actions that prevent a goal from being achieved. For example: "Unexpected obstacles threatened to thwart the objective of completing the project on time."

What's a good alternative to "thwart the objective"?

Alternatives include "undermine the goal", "obstruct the aim", or "sabotage the plan", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "thwart the objective" or "achieve the objective"?

They have opposite meanings. "Thwart the objective" means to prevent the objective from being achieved, while "achieve the objective" means to successfully reach the goal.

What does it mean to "thwart the objective" in a strategic context?

In strategy, to "thwart the objective" means to take actions that hinder or prevent an opponent's plan or goal from succeeding. This could involve defensive measures or proactive steps to disrupt their efforts.