- to oppose successfully or prevent; frustrate
- obsolete to be or move across
- a seat lying across a boat and occupied by an oarsman
- passing or being situated across
- obsolete across
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
thwart1 /θwɔrt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to oppose successfully:The general thwarted his opponent by making a brilliant defense of the city.
thwart (thwôrt),USA pronunciation
v.t.
n.
adj.
prep., adv.
thwart′ed•ly, adv.
thwart′er, n.
- to oppose successfully;
prevent from accomplishing a purpose. - to frustrate or baffle (a plan, purpose, etc.).
- [Archaic.]
- to cross.
- to extend across.
n.
- Naval Termsa seat across a boat, esp. one used by a rower.
- Naval Termsa transverse member spreading the gunwales of a canoe or the like.
adj.
- passing or lying crosswise or across;
cross;
transverse. - perverse;
obstinate. - adverse;
unfavorable.
prep., adv.
- across;
athwart.
- Old Norse thvert across, neuter of thverr transverse; cognate with Old English thweorh crooked, cross, Gothic thwairhs cross, angry
- Middle English thwert (adverb, adverbial) 1200–50
thwart′er, n.
- 1. hinder, obstruct. Thwart, frustrate, baffle imply preventing one, more or less completely, from accomplishing a purpose. Thwart and frustrate apply to purposes, actions, plans, etc., baffle, to the psychological state of the person thwarted. Thwart suggests stopping one by opposing, blocking, or in some way running counter to one's efforts. Frustrate implies rendering all attempts or efforts useless or ineffectual, so that nothing ever comes of them. Baffle suggests causing defeat by confusing, puzzling, or perplexing, so that a situation seems too hard a problem to understand or solve.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
thwart /θwɔːt/ vb
'thwarted' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):