verb
thwart
thwawt
Thwart (verb) means to stop someone from succeeding at a plan; to block or frustrate it. Example: “Police thwarted the robbery before it began.”
verb
1
To stop someone from succeeding at a plan; to block or frustrate it.
"Police thwarted the robbery before it began."
"Bad weather thwarted their attempt to reach the summit."
noun
1
A seat across a small boat where a rower sits.
"He braced his feet against the thwart as he rowed."
How to use thwart
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo block or prevent a plan from working out.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "thwack" (to hit hard) — they look similar but are unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
thwart an attempt
thwart a plan
thwart someone's efforts
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Word forms
- Plural
- thwarts
- Third person singular
- thwarts
- Past tense
- thwarted
- Comparative
- more thwart
- Superlative
- most thwart
- Archaic forms
- thwartest, thwartedst, thwarteth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Police _____ the robbery before it began.
Etymology
From Old Norse þverr, meaning "transverse" or "across" — the same root behind the word "queer."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for thwart
See all rhymes for thwart →Frequently asked questions
What does “thwart” mean?
The word “thwart” means to stop someone from succeeding at a plan; to block or frustrate it. In plain terms, to block or prevent a plan from working out.
How do you pronounce “thwart”?
“Thwart” is pronounced thwawt (/θwɔɹt/ in IPA).
How do you use “thwart” in a sentence?
Here is “thwart” used in a sentence: “Police thwarted the robbery before it began.”
What part of speech is “thwart”?
Depending on how it is used, “thwart” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “thwart” come from?
The word “thwart” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse þverr, meaning "transverse" or "across" — the same root behind the word "queer.".
How many meanings does “thwart” have?
“Thwart” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to stop someone from succeeding at a plan; to block or frustrate it.
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