as in frustrated
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
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Recent Examples of balked
Despite high hopes for their current Fighting Illini, Vellore and his friends still hold the 2005 team as the pinnacle, and initially balked at the suggestion that the 2026 team could be better.
—
Aidan Sadovi, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The jingle was a triumph of earworming, and nobody balked at putting baseball at the head of the conga line of signifiers.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Mar. 2026
For years, many crypto holders have balked at selling — even for major purchases like a home — because doing so would mean giving up potential upside while also incurring capital gains taxes.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
It was originally conceived around an American lead but actors who balked at filming in Ukraine.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
Democrats balked at funding the agency, while other departments are unaffected, demanding changes to immigration enforcement by federal agents.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
Democrats balked at funding the agency, while other departments are unaffected, demanding changes to immigration enforcement by federal agents following the shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.
—CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Democrats balked at funding the agency, demanding changes to immigration enforcement by federal agents after the shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.
—Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2026
Much of this work is planned and funded outside Hidalgo’s jurisdiction, in the suburbs, where some residents balked at her agenda to remove cars.
—Marie Patino, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026
Aidan Sadovi, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The jingle was a triumph of earworming, and nobody balked at putting baseball at the head of the conga line of signifiers.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Mar. 2026
For years, many crypto holders have balked at selling — even for major purchases like a home — because doing so would mean giving up potential upside while also incurring capital gains taxes.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
It was originally conceived around an American lead but actors who balked at filming in Ukraine.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
Democrats balked at funding the agency, while other departments are unaffected, demanding changes to immigration enforcement by federal agents.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
Democrats balked at funding the agency, while other departments are unaffected, demanding changes to immigration enforcement by federal agents following the shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.
—CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Democrats balked at funding the agency, demanding changes to immigration enforcement by federal agents after the shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.
—Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2026
Much of this work is planned and funded outside Hidalgo’s jurisdiction, in the suburbs, where some residents balked at her agenda to remove cars.
—Marie Patino, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balked
Verb
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The San Jose Unified School District board voted Thursday night to shut down five elementary schools and relocate another at the end of the current school year, a decision that has left many parents and students frustrated and scrambling to adjust.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Americans are burned-out, frustrated, and hunting for scapegoats.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
No one, not even Jason — who is baffled at the galley’s sudden collapse — is more surprised at Ellie’s outburst than Ben.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
-
On Sunday, Roan responded on Instagram, seemingly baffled by the swirling controversy.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His ability to hold runners has hampered him.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Jospin never embraced his role as a public figure, hampered by a restrained personality that grew even stiffer in front of cameras.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Both problems also thwarted Artemis I, whose capsule returned with excessive heat shield damage.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The livestream had originally been scheduled for April 1, but clouds thwarted the view.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balked. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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