stymie or sty·my, sti·my [ stahy-mee ]
noun
1. Golf. (on a putting green) an instance of a ball's lying on a direct line between the cup and the ball of an opponent about to putt.
2. a situation or problem presenting such difficulties as to discourage or defeat any attempt to deal with or resolve it.
verb (used with object), sty·mied, sty·mie·ing.
3. to hinder, block, or thwart.
RELATED WORDS
obstruct, thwart, stonewall, foil, stall, impede, crimp, mystify, prevent, cramp, stump, nonplus, defeat, pigeonhole, confound, corner, crab, shelve, balk, puzzle
SYNONYMS
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3. stump, mystify, frustrate, confound.
Origin: First recorded in 1855–60; origin uncertain
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