stymie
pronunciation
How to pronounce stymie in British English:
UK [ˈstaɪmi]
How to pronounce stymie in American English:
US [ˈstaɪmi]
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- Noun:
- a situation in golf where an opponent's ball blocks the line between your ball and the hole
- a thwarting and distressing situation
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- Verb:
- hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
Word Origin
- stymie (v.)
- 1857, in golf, from stymie (n.) "condition in which an opponent's ball blocks the hole" (1834), perhaps from Scottish stymie "person who sees poorly," from stime "the least bit" (early 14c.), of uncertain origin. General sense of "block, hinder, thwart" is from 1902. Related: Stymied.
Example
- 1. This vulnerability could stymie the internet economy .
- 2. The cruel and harsh elements in my literary works often stymie the romantic feelings people have for rural life .
- 3. The company also stands accused of several other transgressions , including using patents to stymie competition in the smartphone market .
- 4. These minnows , with their lackadaisical approach to profitability , stymie china 's efforts to secure better prices for raw materials and add to international pressure for anti-dumping investigations .
- 5. How better to reinvigorate the alliance ( and generate much-needed economic growth ) than a bonfire of the regulatory controls and bureaucratic infighting that still stymie trade and investment .