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
When moderate, swing-district members of the House balked prior to the vote, Johnson assured them that the caucus wouldn't really go through with such destructive and heartless cuts to a program that serves as a lifeline for millions of poor Americans.
—
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Continuing resolutions were approved in September and December with bipartisan support as Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson relied on Democrats to keep the government operating when a significant number of GOP members balked at the legislation.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
Concerning the avant-garde, John Quinn, the visionary behind the 1913 Armory Show, was more adventurous, leaning into Cubism and Duchamp’s radical experiments where Barnes balked.
—Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
In Southern post offices, predominately white clientele balked at conducting personal transactions with Black postal employees.
—Sarah Prager, JSTOR Daily, 12 Mar. 2025
Biden's silence has stunned even some Republicans, who balked at his speech and argued that the CHIPS Act is critical for national security.
—Ars Technica, 11 Mar. 2025
Israel has balked at entering negotiations over the terms of the second phase.
—Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
In December 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that Barbara Broccoli balked when Amazon Studios executive Jennifer Salke proposed several Bond spinoff projects, including a Bond series with a female lead, for Prime Video.
—Colin Burnett, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025
Germany, which spent much of the 20th century either engaging in or avoiding combat with the Soviet Union, has balked at the idea of sending troops to Ukraine, even in a peacekeeping capacity.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Mar. 2025
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Continuing resolutions were approved in September and December with bipartisan support as Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson relied on Democrats to keep the government operating when a significant number of GOP members balked at the legislation.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
Concerning the avant-garde, John Quinn, the visionary behind the 1913 Armory Show, was more adventurous, leaning into Cubism and Duchamp’s radical experiments where Barnes balked.
—Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
In Southern post offices, predominately white clientele balked at conducting personal transactions with Black postal employees.
—Sarah Prager, JSTOR Daily, 12 Mar. 2025
Biden's silence has stunned even some Republicans, who balked at his speech and argued that the CHIPS Act is critical for national security.
—Ars Technica, 11 Mar. 2025
Israel has balked at entering negotiations over the terms of the second phase.
—Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
In December 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that Barbara Broccoli balked when Amazon Studios executive Jennifer Salke proposed several Bond spinoff projects, including a Bond series with a female lead, for Prime Video.
—Colin Burnett, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025
Germany, which spent much of the 20th century either engaging in or avoiding combat with the Soviet Union, has balked at the idea of sending troops to Ukraine, even in a peacekeeping capacity.
—Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Balked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balked. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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