| Main Entry: | checkmate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | countermove |
Synonyms: |
baffle, conquer, corner, defeat, frustrate, gain, outwit, stop, thwart, triumph, undo, vanquish |
| Main Entry: | check |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hinder, restrain |
Synonyms: |
arrest, baffle, bar, bit, bottleneck, bridle, checkmate, choke, circumvent, constrain, control, counteract, curb, cut short, delay, discourage, foil, frustrate, halt, harness, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, impede, inhibit, interrupt, keep back, limit, moderate, neutralize, nip in the bud, obstruct, obviate, pause, play for time, preclude, prevent, rebuff, reduce, rein in, repress, repulse, retard, slacken pace, slow down, snub, squelch, stay, stop, suppress, tame, terminate, thwart, withhold |
Antonyms: |
aid, allow, assist, expedite, help, indulge, liberate, permit |
| Main Entry: | conquer |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | defeat, overcome |
Synonyms: |
beat, bring to knees, checkmate, circumvent, clobber, control, cream*, crush, discomfit, drub, foil, frustrate, get the better of, humble, lick, master, outwit, overmaster, overpower, override, overthrow, prevail, quell, reduce, rout, shut down, subdue, subjugate, succeed, surmount, throw, thwart, total*, trample underfoot, trash, triumph, vanquish, whip, wipe off map, worst, zap |
Antonyms: |
capitulate, fail, give up, lose, retreat, succumb, surrender, yield |
| Main Entry: | cut short |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | stop earlier than intended |
Synonyms: |
abbreviate, abort, abridge, break off, break short, bring to an end; leave unfinished, check, checkmate, clip, curtail, diminish, end, finish, freeze, halt, hinder, intercept, interrupt, postpone, put a stop to, quit, shorten, stop, stop cold, stop dead, stop short, terminate |
Antonyms: |
continue, lengthen, prolong |
| Main Entry: | deadlock |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | stalemate, impasse |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, box*, cessation, checkmate, corner, dead end, dead heat, dilemma, draw, full stop, gridlock, halt, hole, pause, pickle, plight, posture, predicament, quandary, standoff, standstill, tie, wall* |
| Notes: | stalemate does not end - it is the outcome (stale in stalemate is from Anglo-Norman meaning 'be placed'); a standoff or deadlock can end |
Antonyms: |
agreement, breakthrough |
| Main Entry: | defeat |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | frustrate |
Synonyms: |
baffle, balk, beat down, beat the system, blank, block, bury, cast down, cause setback, checkmate, circumvent, confound, contravene, cook*, counterplot, cross, disappoint, discomfit, disconcert, disprove, edge out, foil, invalidate, neutralize, nonplus, nose out, nullify, outwit, overturn, put end to, puzzle, quell, reduce, refute, ruin, scuttle, shave, shellac, skunk, spoil, squash, stump, subdue, subjugate, surmount, take wind out of sails, throw for loop, thwart, undo, victimize |
Antonyms: |
abet, aid, encourage, help, inspirit |
| Main Entry: | discomfit |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | defeat, frustrate; confuse |
Synonyms: |
abash, annoy, baffle, balk, beat, bother, checkmate, confound, demoralize, discompose, disconcert, discountenance, disturb, embarrass, faze, fluster, foil, irk, outwit, overcome, perplex, perturb, prevent, rattle, ruffle, take aback, thwart, trump, unsettle, upset, vex, worry, worst |
Antonyms: |
surrender, yield |
| Main Entry: | failure |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | lack of success |
Synonyms: |
abortion, bankruptcy, bomb, botch, breakdown, bungle, bust, checkmate, collapse, decay, decline, defeat, deficiency, deficit, deterioration, downfall, failing, false step, faux pas, fiasco, flash in the pan, flop, frustration, implosion, inadequacy, lead balloon, lemon, loser, loss, mess, misadventure, miscarriage, misstep, nonperformance, nonsuccess, overthrow, rout, rupture, sinking ship, stalemate, stoppage, total loss, turkey, washout, wreck |
Antonyms: |
accomplishment, achievement, attainment, earnings, gain, merit, success, win |
| Main Entry: | foil |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | circumvent, nip in the bud |
Synonyms: |
baffle, balk, beat, bilk, bollix, buffalo, check, checkmate, counter, crab, cramp, crimp, curb, dash, defeat, disappoint, disconcert, ditch, dodge, duck, elude, faze, foul up, frustrate, get around, give the run-around, give the slip, hang up, hinder, juke, nullify, outwit, prevent, rattle, restrain, run circles around, run rings around, shake, shake off, shuffle off, skip, stop, stymie, throw monkey wrench in, thwart, upset the apple cart |
Antonyms: |
abet, aid, assist, help |
| Main Entry: | obstruction |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | obstacle, impediment |
Synonyms: |
bar, barricade, barrier, block, blockage, blocking, booby trap, check, checkmate, circumvention, difficulty, gridlock, hamper, hindrance, hurdle, interference, jam*, lock, monkey wrench, mountain*, restraint, roadblock, snag, stop, stoppage, stumbling block, trammel, trouble, wall |
Antonyms: |
aid, assistance, boost, help, promotion, support |