as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the constant interruptions proved to be a balk to the flow of conversation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to frustrate
to prevent from achieving a goal
a young man with big dreams who refused to be balked by the many challenges he faced in making them a reality
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of balk
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025
The teams scored eight runs in a 46-minute first inning, which featured seven walks, a hit batter, an umpires conference, two balks, all nine batters for both teams coming to the plate.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 2 July 2025
The company is getting squeezed by independent coffee shops, growing chains like Blank Street Coffee and Blue Bottle Coffee and drive-thru companies such as Dutch Bros. Customers have also balked at Starbucks’ prices.
—Maya Blackstone, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for balk
Noun
Dodgers After pregame trade disrupts Giants, Dodgers power their way to series victory
June 15, 2025
Tatis was allowed to stay on second, and eventually came around to score when Michael Kopech entered the game and stumbled on a throw with the bases loaded, resulting in a run-scoring balk.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025
The teams scored eight runs in a 46-minute first inning, which featured seven walks, a hit batter, an umpires conference, two balks, all nine batters for both teams coming to the plate.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
At a meeting Tuesday, some county commissioners balked at a proposal to lift a subsidy cap that was imposed on the retail theme park when a different commission approved the project in 2018.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 2 July 2025
The company is getting squeezed by independent coffee shops, growing chains like Blank Street Coffee and Blue Bottle Coffee and drive-thru companies such as Dutch Bros. Customers have also balked at Starbucks’ prices.
—Maya Blackstone, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for balk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balk
Noun
-
These shifts signal a recognition that regulation is not an obstacle to progress but a critical enabler of responsible, adaptive innovation - especially when physically embedded in place.—
Kath Mackay,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Despite the obstacles, authorities from at least seven neighboring counties have followed countless tips in their hunt for Decker, with some leads running hot.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Williams often got frustrated with him and told him to be quiet.—
Michael Cuglietta,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
-
Even so, our reporting left me feeling mostly frustrated with my brain.—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
Frequently the Swedes have been impressive in the early stages of tournaments only to fall at the final hurdle.—
Asif Burhan,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
One of the biggest hurdles was the architecture of the building.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
12 July 2025
Verb
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Russia's ambitions to produce more military aircraft are being thwarted by a shortage of components caused by sanctions and a growing labor shortage, it has been reported.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
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The Sydney Project team had their first dive attempt thwarted by weather conditions, but their second attempt on June 18 proved successful.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
Indeed, President Trump will probably never appeal his executive order losses in lower courts to avoid the embarrassment of losing in the Supreme Court populated with three Trump appointees.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
30 June 2025
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Our parade in Fort Lauderdale was a fitting tribute to a great hockey team, while Trump’s embarrassment of a parade was a fitting tribute to a failed presidency.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
Money terms and concepts continue to baffle people, many of whom are seeking answers through online searches.—
Russ Wiles,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
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Even with the other guys' admonitions not to, under any circumstances, be themselves, Dee and Charlie's improbable success in charming these scions of the Philly upper crust had the guys — and us — both baffled and anxiously awaiting an ugly twist.—
Dennis Perkins,
EW.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
An 11th person has been charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy.—
Dallas Morning News,
Twin Cities,
10 July 2025
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Even after stopping at an intersection, drivers may need to crane their necks to see around obstructions such as trees, light poles or sign posts that block visibility.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
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The toddler stopped crying about 15 minutes after she had been put down for a nap.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
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The black box stopped recording a few seconds later.—
Clara McMichael,
ABC News,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Balk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balk. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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