Pronunciation: /ˈstaɪmi/

Definitions of stymie

noun a situation or problem that stops someone from achieving a goal or completing a task

Example Sentences

A1 The difficult puzzle was a stymie for the children.

A2 The lack of funding proved to be a stymie for the project.

B1 The unexpected change in regulations was a stymie for the company's expansion plans.

B2 The language barrier was a stymie in their efforts to communicate effectively with the locals.

C1 The complex legal issues presented a stymie for the lawyers working on the case.

C2 The political unrest in the region was a significant stymie for the peace negotiations.

verb to prevent or hinder the progress of someone or something

Example Sentences

A1 The difficult puzzle stymied the young child.

A2 The lack of information stymied her efforts to complete the project.

B1 The unexpected road closure stymied our plans for a quick trip.

B2 The complex regulations stymied the company's expansion into new markets.

C1 The political deadlock stymied any progress on the new legislation.

C2 The language barrier stymied effective communication between the two teams.

Examples of stymie in a Sentence

formal The new regulations may stymie the company's ability to expand into new markets.

informal The bad weather could stymie our plans for a picnic this weekend.

slang The unexpected traffic jam really stymied our progress on the road trip.

figurative His fear of failure stymied his efforts to pursue his dreams.

Grammatical Forms of stymie

past tense

stymied

plural

stymies

comparative

more stymie

superlative

most stymie

present tense

stymie

future tense

will stymie

perfect tense

have stymied

continuous tense

is stymieing

singular

stymie

positive degree

stymie

infinitive

to stymie

gerund

stymying

participle

stymied

Origin and Evolution of stymie

First Known Use: 1902 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The word 'stymie' originated in the game of golf, where it referred to a situation where one player's ball obstructed the path of another player's ball to the hole.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'stymie' has evolved to be used more broadly to describe any situation where one's progress is hindered or obstructed by an obstacle.