stymie
UK: ˈstaɪmi | US: ˈstaɪmi
vt. to hinder, block, or thwart someone's efforts or progress
n. a situation where progress is obstructed or frustrated
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The word "stymie" originated in the mid-19th century from golf terminology, where it referred to an opponent's ball blocking the path of another ball on the putting green. It likely derives from Scots English stymie (meaning "to hinder"), though its deeper roots are unclear. Over time, it broadened to describe any obstructive situation. The word retains its original spelling and cannot be meaningfully split into smaller morphemes while preserving its form.
The sudden rainstorm stymied our plans for a picnic.
Bureaucratic delays stymied the project's progress.
She felt stymied by the lack of clear instructions.
The team's defense stymied every attempt by the opponents to score.
His stubbornness stymied all efforts at negotiation.