Nixon tried to stonewall through Watergate by ignoring it, but it didn't work.
Source: tatoeba (35988)
Stonewall
/ˈstəʊnwɔːl/
Synonyms for "stonewall" (82 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: baffle, balk, barrier, blast, blockade.
- Sentence evidence is available for stonewall, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse.
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 "stonewall".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "stonewall"
Keep "stonewall" 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 "stonewall" 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 "stonewall", 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 "stonewall" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
16 entriesMore specific
12 entriesCollocations
11 entriesboundary walldry stone wallgarden wallretaining wallstone wallstonewall a committeestonewall a requeststonewall an inquirystonewall funding requestsstonewall the processstonewalling tactic
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
26 total sentences available.
That was what was causing the Government to hesitate in bringing down the Bill. There would be so many amendments proposed, and so many stonewalls erected, that much time would be occupied, and, that being so, he felt he must go on with other business first.
Source: wiktionary
[…] I suddenly realized that here was the opening I had been searching for and perhaps even the possibility of striking a great blow, a blow perhaps powerful enough to shatter her stonewall defence, be it sane or insane.
Source: wiktionary
Our conversation took place in a sort of no-man's land of irregular French. M. Crèspy's patois and Midi twang battled for meaning against my stonewall classroom phrases.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 26 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "stonewall"?
Closest matches include baffle, balk, barrier, blast, blockade.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "stonewall"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.
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