Definitions
- Describing a situation where progress is blocked or prevented by an obstacle or challenge. - Referring to a situation where someone is unable to proceed with their plans or goals due to external factors. - Talking about a situation where someone is frustrated or hindered in their efforts to achieve something.
- Referring to a situation where progress is slowed down or impeded by obstacles or challenges. - Describing a situation where someone is hindered or restricted in their actions or movements. - Talking about a situation where someone is prevented from achieving their goals due to external factors.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe situations where progress is hindered or prevented.
- 2Both words refer to external factors that impede someone's actions or goals.
- 3Both words can be used to describe physical or non-physical obstacles.
- 4Both words imply a sense of frustration or difficulty in achieving one's objectives.
What is the difference?
- 1Severity: Stymie implies a more severe or complete blockage of progress, while hamper suggests a partial or temporary hindrance.
- 2Cause: Stymie often implies an unexpected or unforeseen obstacle, while hamper can refer to both expected and unexpected obstacles.
- 3Focus: Stymie emphasizes the inability to proceed with plans or goals, while hamper emphasizes the slowing down or restriction of actions or movements.
- 4Usage: Stymie is less common than hamper and is often used in more formal or literary contexts, while hamper is more versatile and commonly used in everyday language.
- 5Connotation: Stymie can have a negative connotation of defeat or hopelessness, while hamper is more neutral and can imply a temporary setback or inconvenience.
Remember this!
Stymie and hamper are synonyms that describe situations where progress is hindered or prevented by external factors. However, stymie implies a more severe or complete blockage of progress, often due to unexpected obstacles, while hamper suggests a partial or temporary hindrance, both expected and unexpected. Stymie emphasizes the inability to proceed with plans or goals, while hamper emphasizes the slowing down or restriction of actions or movements.
