1
Core action
Prevent, obstruct, or seriously hinder progress toward a goal.
Example
Missing records stymied the investigation.
stymie
/ˈstaɪmi/ · STY-meeverb
Prevent, obstruct, or seriously hinder progress toward a goal.
Use stymie to express this relationship precisely: prevent, obstruct, or seriously hinder progress toward a goal.
What stymie Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Common construction
Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.
Example
Technical failures may stymie attempts to reproduce the result.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
The shortage did not entirely stymie the project.
Use stymie Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
Missing records stymied the investigation.
Technical failures may stymie attempts to reproduce the result.
The shortage did not entirely stymie the project.
Precision Matters
Stymie overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
stymie
vs.Means prevent, obstruct, or seriously hinder progress toward a goal.
bolster
Means to support, strengthen, or reinforce.
stymie
vs.Means prevent, obstruct, or seriously hinder progress toward a goal.
foster
Means to encourage or promote the development of something.
stymie
vs.Means prevent, obstruct, or seriously hinder progress toward a goal.
fortify
Means strengthen, reinforce, or protect something against damage, attack, weakness, or decline.
stymie
vs.Means prevent, obstruct, or seriously hinder progress toward a goal.
impede
Means to prevent, obstruct, or slow progress.
Test stymie in Context
The restriction obstructs and prevents progress.
1
Without access to the sealed archive, researchers were unable to proceed; the restriction continued to ___ their inquiry.