Word
thwart
US/ˈθwɔɹt/
UK/θwˈɔːt/
Definition
v. to stop someone from doing what they planned or to prevent something from happening. You use this when a person or a problem gets in the way of a goal.
v. to prevent someone from accomplishing a purpose or to frustrate a plan or effort. Transitive; requires a direct object representing the goal or the person attempting it.
Examples
“The heavy rain will thwart our plans for a picnic.”
“Security guards managed to thwart the robbery attempt before the suspects could reach the vault.”
“The diplomat's efforts to secure a lasting peace were repeatedly thwarted by deep-seated historical animosities and a lack of trust between the negotiating parties.”
Examples
simple
“The heavy rain will thwart our plans for a picnic.”
contextual
“Security guards managed to thwart the robbery attempt before the suspects could reach the vault.”
complex
“The diplomat's efforts to secure a lasting peace were repeatedly thwarted by deep-seated historical animosities and a lack of trust between the negotiating parties.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“Much is at stake: trust in science, scientists and government, not to mention our ability to thwart and respond to the next pandemic.” “Don’t defund the police who thwart terror attacks.” Etymology
From Middle English thwerte, from the adjective thwert (“obstinate, perverse”), from Old Norse þvert, neuter of þverr (“transverse”). Cognates The English adjective is cognate with Danish tvær (“sullen, sulky”), Gothic 𐌸𐍅𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌷𐍃 (þwairhs, “angry”), Middle Dutch dwers, dwars (modern Dutch dwars (“crosswise, transverse; slantwise, askew; stubbornly disobedient”)), Norwegian tvert, tvært, Old Frisian þweres, dwers (Saterland Frisian twars, West Frisian dwers, dwerz (“across, to the other side of; beyond”)), Middle Low German dwers, dwars (Low German dwars (“contrary; cross-grained”)), Old English þweorh (“transverse; perverse; angry, cross”), Old High German twer (Middle High German twer, quer, modern German quer (“crosswise; cross”)), Swedish tvär (“across, transverse; of a curve: sharp; immediate, sudden; grumpy, stubborn”). It is related to queer; also Proto-West Germanic *þwerh,
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/thwart