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Golf was being played in Scotland as early as the 15th century, but it wasn't until the 19th century that the sport really caught on in England and North America. It was also in the 19th century that the word stymie entered English as a noun referring to a golfing situation in which one player's ball lies between another ball and the hole on the putting green, thereby blocking the line of play. Later, stymie came to be used as a verb meaning "to bring into the position of, or impede by, a stymie." By the early 20th century, the verb was being applied in similarly vexing non-golf contexts.
Examples of stymie in a Sentence
Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 18 May 2025
But the May 9 order gave no insight into how the president planned to overcome hurdles that have long stymied the dream of a vibrant veteran community on the 388-acre property, which was donated to the U.S. government in 1888 as a home for disabled soldiers.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
Still, none of these assets pay dividends, which stymies investors seeking income and an inflation hedge.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 12 May 2025
Trump said even the Supreme Court, with a 6-3 majority appointed by Republicans, stymied him.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stymie
Cite this Entry
“Stymie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stymie. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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stymie
verb
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