verb

thwart

thwawt

verb

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

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 notes

In 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

thwack →

Common pairings

thwart an attempt thwart a plan thwart someone's efforts

Word Forms

more thwart comparative, thwarted past tense, thwart plural, thwarted plural, thwarts plural, thwarts singular, thwart singular, thwarted singular, thwartest singular, thwartedst singular, thwarteth singular, most thwart superlative

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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."

Rhymes for thwart

art dart hart wart cart mart part tart Bart heart start apart

See all rhymes for thwart →