Balk

/bɔːk/

Synonyms for "balk" (189 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (38)

Strong matches (57)

Related words (94)

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: hindrance, impediment, argue, arrest, avert.
  • Sentence evidence is available for balk, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "balk".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "balk"

Keep "balk" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "balk" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "balk", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "balk" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

16 entries

More specific

11 entries

Collocations

12 entries
balk atbalk at costbalk at expensesbalk at payingbalk at riskbalk at taxationbalk callfunding balklumber balkpolicy balkprocedural balktimber balk

Inflections

3 entries

Derivations

2 entries

Translations

21 translations across 11 languages.

Powered by Wiktionary

Ancient Greek

1 entries
  • σφῦρα noun (an unplowed strip of land)

Breton

1 entries
  • erv noun (an unplowed strip of land)

Bulgarian

3 entries
  • лъжливо движение noun ((sports) deceptive motion; feint)
  • неизорана ивица земя noun (an unplowed strip of land)
  • финт noun ((sports) deceptive motion; feint)

Finnish

2 entries
  • harhautus noun ((sports) deceptive motion; feint)
  • piennar noun (an unplowed strip of land)

French

3 entries
  • balk noun ((sports) deceptive motion; feint)
  • feinte irrégulière noun ((sports) deceptive motion; feint)
  • raie noun (an unplowed strip of land)

German

4 entries
  • Feldrain noun (an unplowed strip of land)
  • Feldrand noun (an unplowed strip of land)
  • Furchenrücken noun (an unplowed strip of land)
  • Rain noun (an unplowed strip of land)

Italian

1 entries
  • porca noun (an unplowed strip of land)

Lower Sorbian

1 entries
  • mjaza noun (an unplowed strip of land)

Manx

1 entries
  • immyr vane noun (an unplowed strip of land)

Polish

1 entries
  • miedza noun (an unplowed strip of land)

Romanian

3 entries
  • fentă noun ((sports) deceptive motion; feint)
  • hat noun (an unplowed strip of land)
  • hotar noun (an unplowed strip of land)

Sample sentences

17 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

RushmoreDrive.Com President and CEO Johnny Taylor is pleased with the feedback he's gotten since the website's launch early this year. Still, some critics balk at the idea of a race-based search engine. Isn't that "discrimination," they ask? Taylor's response: diversity is a cornerstone of the American marketplace.

Source: tatoeba (12286279)

How fruitfull are the ſeeming Barren places of Scripture. Bad Plow-men, which make Balkes of ſuch Ground.

Source: wiktionary

, "Concealment of Sin" a balk to the confidence of the bold undertaker

Source: wiktionary

Sick he is, and keeps his bed, and balks his meat.

Source: wiktionary

Showing 4 of 17 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "balk"?

Closest matches include hindrance, impediment, argue, arrest, avert.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "balk"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "balk"