What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stonewall
Example
The witness continued to stonewall the prosecutor's questions, making it difficult to get any useful information. [stonewall: verb]
Example
The company's management has been stonewalling the union's requests for better working conditions. [stonewalling: gerund or present participle]
hinder
Example
The heavy rain hindered our progress on the hike. [hindered: past tense]
Example
The lack of funding is hindering the development of the new project. [hinder: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hinder is more commonly used than stonewall in everyday language. Hinder is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while stonewall is less common and often used in specific contexts such as politics or sports.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stonewall and hinder?
Both stonewall and hinder are relatively formal words, but stonewall may be perceived as more formal due to its association with politics and legal contexts.