frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.
frustrated attempts at government reform
thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.
the army thwarted his attempt at a coup
foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.
foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her
baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.
baffled by the maze of rules and regulations
balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.
officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime
Example Sentences
Verb I was baffled by many of the scientific terms used in the article. the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
And The Old Course at St. Andrews in the middle of the Auld Grey Toun is a never-ending puzzle that has stood the test of time and continues to baffle the best players in the world. Steve Dimeglio, USA TODAY, 16 July 2022 That intentional obscurity might baffle audiences, and in Men, intrigue often curdles into fear. David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 May 2022 The film uses it as the setting for a Joe Manganiello cameo, then lets Hunter escape with an ease that would baffle the heroes of that Mountain Goats song. John Defore, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Apr. 2022 On issues like taxes and health care, their views are far more popular than those of the GOP, but the party is increasingly identified with cultural stances that baffle older voters and voters who didn't go to college. Noah Millman, The Week, 12 Oct. 2021 Each woman holds her ground — take, for example, the episode about polyamory, in which Willow seems to baffle her co-hosts — but the inter-family good will prevents the show from ever erupting into true tension.New York Times, 10 Feb. 2022 The way that society pressures young couples to get married but can’t fathom two best friends making that same commitment never fails to baffle me. April Lee, refinery29.com, 9 Feb. 2022 APTs are more complex to plan and manage than traditional trials, and their statistical methods may baffle the average physician, but the fda has embraced the approach, and COVID has proved their utility. Claudia Wallis, Scientific American, 20 Jan. 2022 Dunse also listens to her customers, even when their requests baffle her.The Week, 26 Feb. 2018
Noun
The Concept 30 speakers are available in black, silver and white lacquers, featuring Q Acoustic's signature aluminum front baffle plate. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 The Concept 30 tweeter is hermetically sealed and mechanically isolated from its supporting baffle. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 Most duvet inserts are designed with baffle-box or box-stitch construction. Amanda Constantine, Good Housekeeping, 29 July 2022 Comforters with a baffle-box design tend to be more expensive because of the construction costs. Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 8 July 2022 This indulgent featherbed has two layers of down and feathers in a baffle box construction that keeps the fill evenly distributed. Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 13 June 2022 The baffle style, made of stainless steel, has two layers of three-sided channels that run horizontally but with the peaks of the channels oriented in opposite directions. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 13 June 2022 Internal bracing adds strength to the front baffle and braces the drive unit to the cabinet, creating a support that aids the dynamic performance of the bass unit. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2022 Cabrera, a 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic, used a fastball topping out at 99 mph with a slider and changeup to baffle Colorado’s lineup. Mike Cranston, Sun Sentinel, 1 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb
probably alteration of Middle English (Scots) bawchillen to denounce, discredit publicly