balk 1 of 2

noun

Definition of balknext
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult the constant interruptions proved to be a balk to the flow of conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

balk

2 of 2

verb

ˈbȯk How to pronounce balk (audio)
as in to frustrate
to prevent from achieving a goal a young man with big dreams who refused to be balked by the many challenges he faced in making them a reality

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb balk differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of balk are baffle, foil, frustrate, and thwart. While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

When is baffle a more appropriate choice than balk?

The words baffle and balk are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

When can foil be used instead of balk?

The synonyms foil and balk are sometimes interchangeable, but foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

When would frustrate be a good substitute for balk?

The words frustrate and balk can be used in similar contexts, but frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

When is it sensible to use thwart instead of balk?

While in some cases nearly identical to balk, thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of balk
Noun
The Sox got called for a balk, placing runners on second and third. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026 Simon stole second base and later scored on a balk on Klein. —Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Investors balked when the CEO failed to provide details about how Meta plans to make a return on its investment. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026 Those same investors, however, balked at endorsing WBD CEO David Zaslav’s massive golden paramount, though that vote is non-binding. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for balk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balk
  1. obstacle
  2. frustrate
  3. hurdle
  4. thwart
  5. embarrassment
  6. baffle
  7. obstruction
  8. stop
Noun
  • Still, travelers may encounter obstacles obtaining their refunds.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 2 May 2026
  • The case for and against a redo The obstacles to a redo are considerable, starting with the obvious security concerns.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Definition of obstacle
Verb
  • The letter was about a 50-year-old who was frustrated that a 70-year-old friend didn’t pick up the phone when called.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Bianco grew visibly frustrated several times over the debate’s format and his opponents’ answers.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of frustrate
Noun
  • Despite that fast-track status, RP1 has encountered more hurdles from the agency than was expected by Replimune Group, the company producing the drug.
    — K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 2 May 2026
  • Also, licensing hurdles in many states ban people with records from even becoming barbers or mechanics, the very trades that offer the best path to independence.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Definition of hurdle
Verb
  • Frey unleashed his five-pitch arsenal, thwarting the Spartans most of the way.
    — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Russia’s defense ministry said its paramilitary forces helped thwart a coup.
    — Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of thwart
Noun
  • Well, the new strike zone and the obvious embarrassment of having a call overturned has changed how umpires call balls and strikes.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
  • For the annual dinner to occur at the White House itself would be a huge—okay, an even huger—embarrassment and conflict of interest.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Definition of embarrassment
Verb
  • His gift is an uncanny ability to solve crimes that leave the LAPD baffled, armed only with the savvy and dry humor reminiscent of the gumshoe detectives of the noir genre.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
  • During our overnight coverage on CNN, Jim Sciutto pointed out that people watching in other countries are baffled by this American attribute.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
Definition of baffle
Noun
  • Symptoms of kidney stones include severe pain on one side of the body, fever, chills, nausea and obstruction of the kidney.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 May 2026
  • Nearly a year after 10 inmates escaped a New Orleans jail through a hole in the wall, a special grand jury has indicted the local sheriff on criminal corruption and obstruction charges in connection with the biggest jailbreak in recent American history.
    — Greg Hilburn, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Definition of obstruction
Verb
  • Quin Snyder’s Towns wrinkle stalled the Knicks briefly, then stopped working.
    — C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The workers get ordered to start jobs, stop jobs, ignore jobs and are other things that turn them into ping pong balls, with the Butleys and the del Valles as the paddles.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Definition of stop

Phrases Containing balk

Browse Nearby Words

bales
balk
balkanized
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Cite this Entry

“Balk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balk. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of balk for Spanish Speakers

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