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What is another word for balks?

Need synonyms for balks? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

Contexts ▼

To suddenly spring or flinch back in fear, horror, or disgust

To be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking

To hesitate or be undecisive in accepting an idea or undertaking

To frustrate or prevent (someone) from achieving an aim

To avoid providing a clear answer or statement

To stand or pull back physically, typically into a defensive, aggressive or fearful posture

To avoid giving a direct answer to (a question)

To disturb the composure of

To disregard the rules and refuse to conform

To cheat, deceive or defraud someone for personal gain

To complain or raise objections

To stop and refuse to go forward (usually of a horse)

To hesitate or refuse to proceed due to fear, aversion, or reluctance

To disagree with or dispute

Plural for something that encumbers progress or movement

Plural for a long, sturdy piece of timber or metal

… more ▼

Verb

To suddenly spring or flinch back in fear, horror, or disgust

more ❯

“The only price to be paid is the irritation of those who balk at the sight of a greedy quasi-criminal being honored by the Queen.”

Verb

To be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking

“Parents concerned about allergies may balk at the idea of keeping pets around children.”

Verb

To hesitate or be undecisive in accepting an idea or undertaking

shilly-shallies

blows hot and cold

sits on the fence

pussyfoots around

chops and changes

runs hot and cold

fence-straddles

plays a waiting game

drags your heels

keeps changing your mind

whiles away time

takes a raincheck

drags your feet

lets something slide

postpones action

suspends action

kicks the can down the road

uses delaying tactics

puts off doing something

more ❯

“He also feared the president would balk at his proposal for the director of the National Research Foundation to be selected by a board of presidential appointees rather than the president himself.”

Verb

To frustrate or prevent (someone) from achieving an aim

cramps one's style

throws monkey wrench in

upsets the applecart

interferes with

puts the kibosh on

stands in the way of

nips in the bud

throws a spanner in the works

gets in the way

throws a monkey wrench in the works of

puts the mockers on

puts the stopper on

puts a spoke in someone's wheel

gets in the way of

takes wind out of

puts a brake on

cooks someone's goose

gives the run around

gives a hard time

drags your feet

halts in its tracks

throws a monkey wrench in the works

prevents from making progress

throws a spoke in the wheel of

wreaks havoc with

throws cold water on

puts a damper on

puts the damper on

pours cold water on

gets the better of

takes wind out of sails

defends against

ties one's hands

takes the wind out of your sails

brings to screeching halt

puts on back burner

throws a monkey wrench into

steals a march on

beats someone to the draw

beats someone to the punch

beats someone to it

provides against

puts the lid on

dashes one's hope

brings to an end

makes a mess of

plays havoc with

blows a hole in

brings to naught

destabilizes^US

destabilises^UK

steers clear of

puts a wrench in the works

stems the flow of

renders ineffective

take issue with

puts a spanner in the works

struggles against

puts up a fight against

makes a hash of

strives against

strangles at birth

makes an end of

brings to a close

circumnavigates

brings an end to

runs counter to

heads off at pass

acts in advance of

takes out of play

puts the brakes on

keeps at arm's length

drags through the mud

brings to an end to

makes a stand against

battles against

queers the pitch of

clips one's wings

pokes full of holes

gains control of

gains mastery over

keeps under control

counterbalances

brings to a standstill

makes ineffective

compensates for

takes a stand against

speaks out against

sets your face against

refuses to accept

takes up arms against

locks horns with

rains on someone's parade

more ❯

“He knew their enemies would do anything to balk his attempts to secure the entire estate for Mrs. King.”

Verb

To avoid providing a clear answer or statement

beats around the bush

gives the runaround

dances around an issue

worms one's way out of

shuffles out of

slips through the net of

escapes the clutches of

keeps your distance

stays away from

breaks away from

gives a wide berth

leads on a merry chase

steers clear of

slips through your fingers

gives the slip to

slips away from

throws off the scent

slips through the net

more ❯

Verb

To stand or pull back physically, typically into a defensive, aggressive or fearful posture

beats a hasty retreat

beats a retreat

moves further off

makes oneself scarce

distances oneself

excludes oneself

absents yourself

walks away from

stops participating

disengages from

stops participating in

steps down from

detaches yourself

abstracts oneself

makes a quick exit

makes a break for it

takes to your heels

makes a getaway

shows a clean pair of heels

heads for the hills

makes a run for it

more ❯

Verb

To avoid giving a direct answer to (a question)

Verb

To disturb the composure of

discombobulates

discountenances

throws off balance

catches off balance

takes by surprise

stops someone in their tracks

puts someone off their stroke

makes someone scratch their head

puts out of countenance

puts someone off their stride

sets someone back on their heels

causes to be at a stand

upsets the applecart

knocks sideways

leaves open-mouthed

sets someone thinking

blows your mind

knocks the stuffing out of

makes uncomfortable

puts into a flap

throws into a tizz

gives a hard time

knocks for a loop

takes your breath away

causes someone to lose their composure

boggles the mind

takes the wind out of your sails

renders speechless

puts the wind up

rattles one's cage

throws into a tizzy

scares to death

brings up short

gives someone grief

goes to your head

makes self-conscious

throws into tizzy

strikes terror into

gives a bad time

scares the bejesus out of

chills to the bone

curdlea the blood

causes anxiety to

pulls the rug from under

makes one's hair stand on end

makes teeth chatter

pulls the rug out from under

boggles the mind of

causes anguish to

gives offence to

makes one's blood run cold

makes miserable

hurts somebody's feelings

cuts to the quick

makes someone jump out of their skin

knocks over with feather

makes your head spin

causes concern to

causes discomfort to

drives up the wall

messes with one's head

destabilizes^US

destabilises^UK

causes disquiet to

blinds someone with something

scares the daylights out of

throws cold water on

pours cold water on

catches unawares

throws for loop

knocks props out

strikes with awe

catches one short

gives someone a fright

gives someone a jolt

throws a curveball

puts on the spot

makes a monkey of

preys on your mind

weighs heavily on

sends into a spin

gets on one's nerves

makes speechless

throws for a loop

causes suffering to

causes to panic

makes it tough for

does a number on

arouses anxiety in

gets on your wick

breaks one's heart

dampens spirits

puts a damper on

puts into a funk

breaks the heart of

dashes the hopes of

shatters the illusions of

dampens the spirits of

raises someone's eyebrows

hits like ton of bricks

completely surprises

shakes out of your complacency

puts someone's nose out of joint

treads on someone's toes

rubs up the wrong way

puts your back up

fills with fear

scares the pants off

gives someone goose pimples

chills to the marrow

gives someone the heebie-jeebies

scares the living daylights out of

scares someone out of their wits

puts the fear of God into

freezes your blood

gets the wind up

throws into a blue funk

throws into a fright

gives one the creeps

makes one's flesh creep

scares someone half to death

turns on the heat

shouts catcalls at

fills with consternation

more ❯

Verb

To disregard the rules and refuse to conform

Verb

To cheat, deceive or defraud someone for personal gain

takes for a ride

takes to the cleaners

pulls a fast one on

puts one over on

takes advantage of

pulls a swifty on

sells a bill of goods to

leads up the garden path

pulls a fast one

pulls the wool over someone's eyes

gives someone a bum steer

sells down the river

pulls one's leg

does the dirty on

sells a bill of goods

does a number on

does someone in the eye

makes a fool of

leads down the garden path

gets the better of

makes a sucker of

pulls someone's leg

puts the screws to

sucks the life out of

plays a trick on

outmanoeuvres^UK

outmaneuvers^US

takes to cleaners

bleeds someone of something

gives bum steer

breaks the rules

steals someone blind

more ❯

Verb

To complain or raise objections

takes exception

expresses doubts

raises objections

expresses doubt

kicks up a fuss

kicks up a stink

lodges a protest

take issue with

protests against

expresses objections

expresses disagreement

expresses objections to

takes exception to

expresses disapproval

expresses disapproval of

remonstrates against

lodges a protest against

expresses disagreement with

raises objections to

complains about

has a problem with

takes a stand against

makes a fuss about

discountenances

draws the line at

raises objection

kicks up a stink about

makes an objection

kicks up a fuss about

goes-one-on-one

mixes it up with

speaks out against

opposes strongly

complains vociferously about

objects strongly to

finds fault with

lodges a complaint

makes a complaint

expresses concern

puts the boot in

inveighs against

more ❯

Verb

To stop and refuse to go forward (usually of a horse)

Verb

To hesitate or refuse to proceed due to fear, aversion, or reluctance

shies away from

draws back from

Verb

To disagree with or dispute

Noun

Plural for something that encumbers progress or movement

stumbling blocks

flies in the ointment

spanners in the works

monkey wrenches

balls and chains

sticking points

circumscription

mountains to climb

more ❯

“It is still commonly described as an unexpected event in which British pusillanimity acted as a balk to French anger.”

Noun

Plural for a long, sturdy piece of timber or metal

horizontal bars

more ❯

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