stonewall

1 of 2

verb

stone·​wall ˈstōn-ˌwȯl How to pronounce stonewall (audio)
stonewalled; stonewalling; stonewalls

intransitive verb

1
chiefly British : to engage in obstructive parliamentary debate or delaying tactics
2
: to be uncooperative, obstructive, or evasive

transitive verb

: to refuse to comply or cooperate with
stonewaller noun

stone wall

2 of 2

noun

1
: a fence made of stones
especially : one built of rough stones without mortar to enclose a field
2
: an immovable block or obstruction (as in public affairs)

Examples of stonewall in a Sentence

Verb They stonewalled until they could come up with a response. They were just stonewalling for time. They're trying to stonewall the media. We're trying to get the information, but we're being stonewalled.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Washington’s secret code to overspending, steering tax dollars to liberal allies, and fattening the federal bureaucracy is finally being revealed by President Donald Trump’s DOGE team after decades of stonewalling oversight efforts, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson. Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 16 Feb. 2025 Thus, by continually stonewalling a deal, the prime minister seemed to be prioritizing his own political and personal survival over bringing the hostages home. Amos Harel, Foreign Affairs, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
Inside, the 245-room hotel, which is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, takes inspiration from the serenity of the outdoors with wooden floors, stone walls, multiple fireplaces, and large windows to let in natural light. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2025 My memory somehow already knew of its light, of the coolness of a home’s stone walls, of the sand in the air. Kristina Kasparian, Longreads, 12 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for stonewall

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1880, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stonewall was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Stonewall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stonewall. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

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