What does thwart mean?
Word: Thwart
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Thwart means to stop someone from doing what they planned.
Synonyms: foil, frustrate, block
Word origin: From Old Norse thvert.
How do you spell thwart?
Syllables: thwart
Tricky part: Three consonants pile up at the start. Students lose the w, or swap it with the a, and write thart or thawrt.
Watch out for: thart, thawrt, thwartt
Memory tip: Say thick, then win, and run the sounds together: the w must not vanish after th.
Thwart in a sentence
Example 1: Heavy fog thwarted our plan to see the sunrise from Tiger Hill.
Example 2: The goalkeeper thwarted three shots in a row.
Example 3: A flat tyre thwarted Dad's plan to reach home early.
Fun Fact
Sailors use the same word as a noun, for the bench a rower sits on in a small boat.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Probe
Choose the meaning of the misspelt word in the sentence:
A sudden cloudburst managed to thwort our plan for a lakeside picnic, so we played carrom on the veranda instead.
a) to keep something from going ahead
b) an open area along the side of a house
c) a meal eaten outdoors, away from home
d) a sudden and very heavy fall of rain
Show answer
a) to keep something from going ahead. After the w the vowel spelling is ar, not or.
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct option:
Thwart comes from the Old Norse word thvert. What does thvert mean?
a) under
b) beside
c) behind
d) across
Show answer
d) across. Something placed across your path blocks your way.
Word Champ
Read the statements and choose the correct option:
1. A strong defender can thwart a striker's best move. 2. Thyme is a herb used in cooking. 3. A throng is one person standing alone.
a) all three are true
b) only 3 is true
c) only 2 and 3 are true
d) only 1 and 2 are true
Show answer
d) only 1 and 2 are true. A throng is a large crowd, which rules out statement 3.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its opposite:
1. thwart 2. lethargic 3. amiable a. hostile b. energetic c. assist
a) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
b) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
c) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
Show answer
a) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a. A lethargic pup is the reverse of an energetic one, and an amiable host is the reverse of a hostile one.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The team's plan was thwarted. What does this tell you?
a) It was finished early.
b) It did not succeed.
c) It won a prize.
d) It was copied by others.
Show answer
b) It did not succeed.
2. Which headline is closest to 'Late goal thwarts visitors'?
a) Late goal helps visitors win
b) Late goal scored by visitors
c) Late goal stops visitors winning
d) Late goal delights visitors
Show answer
c) Late goal stops visitors winning
