stonewall

1 of 2

verb

stone·​wall ˈstōn-ˌwȯl 

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

Verb

Avoidance: Ignoring or giving someone the ‘silent’ treatment is commonly referred to as stonewalling. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 22 June 2024

Allen went on to dominate for more than a decade in the league, stonewalling defensive linemen on passing plays and plowing through them to open running lanes. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 3 June 2024

Noun

According to multiple law-enforcement sources, between 2019 and late 2022 — the years of inquiry in this story — that vanishing ink was a stone wall for cops, and a boon to Snap’s criminal users. —Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2024

Tours depart at the national park’s gateway, which is marked by a stone wall. —Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2024

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

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