stonewall

1 of 2

verb

stone·​wall ˈstōn-ˌwȯl How to pronounce stonewall (audio)
stonewalled; stonewalling; stonewalls

intransitive verb

1
chiefly British : to engage in obstructive parliamentary debate or delaying tactics
2
: to be uncooperative, obstructive, or evasive

transitive verb

: to refuse to comply or cooperate with
stonewaller noun

stone wall

2 of 2

noun

1
: a fence made of stones
especially : one built of rough stones without mortar to enclose a field
2
: an immovable block or obstruction (as in public affairs)

Examples of stonewall in a Sentence

Verb They stonewalled until they could come up with a response. They were just stonewalling for time. They're trying to stonewall the media. We're trying to get the information, but we're being stonewalled.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
And nuclear inspectors are being stonewalled from accessing sites under construction near its nuclear facility of Natanz, where more advanced centrifuges are expected to be placed. Laura Kelly, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025 Defiant Senator stonewalled in El Salvador Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., wants to see Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the father of three who was wrongly deported by President Donald Trump's administration a month ago. Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
The iconic building that’s now the town’s wedding chapel was built with thick stone walls to store dairy products and other perishables. Kathe Tanner, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2025 With its horned Highland cattle, its neat stone walls and a tiny church that dates from the 15th century on its land, Cowage Farm in Foxley, in southwestern England, hardly looks like a crime scene. Stephen Castle, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stonewall

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1880, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stonewall was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Stonewall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stonewall. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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