thwart
/θwɔːt/ (bre, ipa) · [θwˈɔrt] /θwɔːrt/ (ame, ipa) · [θwˈɔrt] /ˈthwȯrt How to pronounce thwart (audio)/ (ame, mw)
thwart — verb
- thwartpresent simple I / you / we / they
- thwartshe / she / it
- thwartedpast simple
- thwarting-ing form
1. to act in a way that stops someone from carrying out what they planned or intend
to act in a way that stops someone from carrying out what they planned or intended, or that prevents a process or event from being completed successfully
A security guard spotted the man and thwarted his attempt to break into the warehouse.
thwart + attempt to [do something]
Meera's plan to open a small café was thwarted when the bank refused her loan.
passive: was thwarted by [obstacle]
Firefighters worked through the night to thwart the spread of the flames toward nearby homes.
Tariq's parents tried to thwart his plan to move abroad, but he went ahead anyway.
A sudden snowstorm thwarted the climbers' push toward the summit just below the peak.
- foil
stronger implication of complete failure, often used in crime or espionage contexts (the police foiled the plot)
- frustrate
emphasises the disappointment or annoyance caused by the failure; broader and more common in everyday contexts
- hamper
suggests making something difficult rather than completely stopping it; weaker in force
- hinder
focuses on creating delays or obstacles without necessarily causing total failure
- aid
to help or support a plan or effort
- facilitate
to make a process easier or more likely to succeed
- assist
to give help so that someone can achieve something
文法句型
thwart + noun phrase (plan/attempt/effort)
用法筆記
Often used in passive constructions (was thwarted / were thwarted) with the obstacle named after 'by'. The direct object is typically an abstract noun such as plan, attempt, effort, or ambition.
常見錯誤
thwart — adverb
1. in a direction that crosses from one side to the other; from side to side — the
in a direction that crosses from one side to the other; from side to side — the standard form is now 'athwart'
A fallen oak tree lay athwart the narrow path, blocking the way through the woods.
athwart = across something, physically blocking
The new manager's ideas about efficiency ran athwart the relaxed culture of the family-owned factory.
metaphorical: opinions / ideas run athwart each other
The old fisherman braced himself athwart the deck as the boat rolled in the heavy swell.
用法筆記
The adverb is now almost always written as 'athwart' in modern English. The bare form 'thwart' survives mainly in the verb sense and in the noun sense (a rowing-boat seat). You are most likely to encounter 'athwart' in formal, literary, or nautical writing.
thwart — adjective
- thwartpositive
- thwartercomparative
- thwartestsuperlative
1. placed or lying across something, rather than running alongside or parallel to i
placed or lying across something, rather than running alongside or parallel to it
A heavy iron chain lay athwart the gateway, barring the entrance to the castle courtyard.
lay athwart = lay across (physical barrier)
The old willow tree had fallen athwart the stream, forming a bridge for the children.
fallen athwart = fallen across
A wooden plank was nailed athwart the broken step for safe footing.
用法筆記
This adjective sense is now extremely rare; the form 'athwart' (or 'transverse') is much more common. You may encounter it in historical descriptions of traditional shipbuilding, carpentry, or architecture.
thwart — noun
1. a wooden or metal seat that stretches from one side of a rowing boat to the othe
a wooden or metal seat that stretches from one side of a rowing boat to the other, on which a rower sits
The old rowboat had three thwarts worn smooth by years of use.
domain: nautical
Eshe sat on the centre thwart and grabbed the oars to row across the lake.
Lakan replaced the broken thwart on his grandfather's rowboat with a new wooden plank.
用法筆記
This noun is specific to rowing boats and traditional small craft. It is not used for seats in modern motorboats or large ships.