Definitions
- Describing a situation where progress is blocked or hindered by an obstacle or challenge. - Referring to a person or thing that prevents or obstructs someone from achieving their goals. - Talking about a situation where one is at a loss for how to proceed due to a difficult problem or dilemma.
- Describing an action taken to prevent someone from achieving their goals or plans. - Referring to a situation where someone's efforts are blocked or frustrated by another person or circumstance. - Talking about a person or thing that stands in the way of progress or success.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe situations where progress or success is blocked or hindered.
- 2Both words can be used to refer to people or things that prevent someone from achieving their goals.
- 3Both words have negative connotations and imply frustration or disappointment.
What is the difference?
- 1Usage: Stymie is typically used to describe a situation or obstacle that is preventing progress, while thwart is more often used to describe an action taken to prevent someone from achieving their goals.
- 2Focus: Stymie emphasizes the difficulty or challenge of the obstacle, while thwart emphasizes the active prevention or blocking of someone's efforts.
- 3Intensity: Thwart implies a more deliberate and intentional effort to block someone's progress, while stymie can also refer to unintentional or unforeseen obstacles.
- 4Connotation: Stymie has a slightly more neutral connotation than thwart, which can carry a stronger sense of opposition or hostility.
Remember this!
Stymie and thwart are synonyms that both describe situations where progress or success is blocked or hindered. However, stymie is typically used to describe a situation or obstacle that is preventing progress, while thwart is more often used to describe an action taken to prevent someone from achieving their goals. Stymie emphasizes the difficulty or challenge of the obstacle, while thwart emphasizes the active prevention or blocking of someone's efforts.
