Balks — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈbȯk/

Meaning & Definition of Balks

Balks (verb)

  1. to refuse abruptly —used with at
  2. to stop short and refuse to proceed
  3. to commit a balk

Balks (noun)

  1. an occurrence in which a pitcher stops suddenly or makes an illegal movement after starting to throw a pitch
  2. failure of a competitor to complete a motion (such as a jump, vault, or dive)
  3. the space behind the balkline on a billiard table

Balks (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something that makes movement or progress difficult

    "the constant interruptions proved to be a balk to the flow of conversation"

    similar: bars, blocks, chains, clogs, cramps, crimps, deterrents, drags, embarrassments, encumbrances, fetters, handicaps, hindrances, holdbacks, hurdles, impediments, inhibitions, interferences, lets, manacles, obstacles, obstructions, shackles, stops, stumbling blocks, trammels
    related: catches, hitches, rubs, snags, barriers, blockades, blockages, brick walls, stone walls, arrests, bits, brakes, checks, constraints, curbs, hobbles, reins, restraints, embargoes, stoppages, delays, holdups, stalls, burdens, cumbers, loads, dangers, hazards, perils, reefs, adversities, difficulties, disadvantages, drawbacks, hardships
    near: catalysts, goads, impetuses, incentives, spurs, stimulants, stimuli, advantages, breaks, edges, aids, assistances, benefits, boosts, handmaidens, help

Balks (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: baffles, beats, checkmates, discomfits, foils, frustrates, thwarts
    related: bars, blocks, clogs, encumbers, fetters, hampers, handicaps, hinders, hobbles, holds back, impedes, inhibits, interferes (with), manacles, obstructs, shackles, ties up, trammels, arrests, checks, halts, sets back, short-circuits, stalls, stops, averts, forestalls, obviates, precludes, prevents, negates, neutralizes, nullifies, counteracts, offsets, conquers, defeats, overcomes
    opposite: advances, cultivates, encourages, forwards, fosters, furthers, nurtures, promotes
    near: abets, aids, assists, eases, facilitates, smooths

Related Entry: Balk (noun)

Balk is a different word from Balks. The synonyms below are for balk, not for balks.

  1. something that makes movement or progress difficult

    "the constant interruptions proved to be a balk to the flow of conversation"

    similar: bar, block, chain, clog, cramp, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, encumbrance, fetter, handicap, hindrance, holdback, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammel
    related: catch, hitch, rub, snag, barrier, blockade, blockage, brick wall, stone wall, arrest, bit, brake, check, constraint, curb, hobble, rein, restraint, embargo, stoppage, delay, holdup, stall, burden, cumber, load, danger, hazard, peril, reef, adversity, difficulty, disadvantage, drawback, hardship
    near: catalyst, goad, impetus, incentive, spur, stimulant, stimulus, advantage, break, edge, aid, assistance, benefit, boost, handmaiden, help

Related Entry: Balk (verb)

Balk is a different word from Balks. The synonyms below are for balk, not for balks.

  1. 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"

    similar: baffle, beat, checkmate, discomfit, foil, frustrate, thwart
    related: bar, block, clog, encumber, fetter, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel, arrest, check, halt, set back, short-circuit, stall, stop, avert, forestall, obviate, preclude, prevent, negate, neutralize, nullify, counteract, offset, conquer, defeat, overcome
    opposite: advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nurture, promote
    near: abet, aid, assist, ease, facilitate, smooth

Related Entry: Balk (at) (verb)

Balk (at) is a different word from Balks. The synonyms below are for balk (at), not for balks.

  1. to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to

    "she balked at lending him any more money"

    similar: decline, deselect, disapprove, negative, nix, pass, pass up, refuse, reject, reprobate, repudiate, spurn, throw out, throw over, turn down, turn one's back on
    related: blow off, disdain, rebuff, scorn, scout, shoot down, overrule, veto, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, dismiss, ignore, abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from), deny, disavow, disclaim, dispute, gainsay, stick, abjure, forswear, recant, renounce, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw, avoid, bypass, detour, contradict, disown, negate, controvert, disagree (with), disprove, rebut, refute, back down, back off, backtrack, disallow, recall, renege, revoke
    opposite: accept, agree (to), approve
    near: condone, countenance, swallow, tolerate, adopt, embrace, receive, take, welcome, accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent, choose, handpick, select, espouse, support

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Balks

The most common words with a similar meaning to Balks:

bars, blocks, chains, clogs, cramps, crimps, deterrents, drags, embarrassments, encumbrances, fetters, handicaps, hindrances, holdbacks, hurdles, impediments, inhibitions, interferences, lets, manacles, obstacles, obstructions, shackles, stops, stumbling blocks, trammels, baffles, beats, checkmates, discomfits, foils, frustrates, thwarts

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Balks

Words with the opposite meaning of Balks:

advances, cultivates, encourages, forwards, fosters, furthers, nurtures, promotes

Related Words for Balks

catches, hitches, rubs, snags, barriers, blockades, blockages, brick walls, stone walls, arrests, bits, brakes, checks, constraints, curbs, hobbles, reins, restraints, embargoes, stoppages, delays, holdups, stalls, burdens, cumbers, loads, dangers, hazards, perils, reefs

Near Antonyms of Balks

catalysts, goads, impetuses, incentives, spurs, stimulants, stimuli, advantages, breaks, edges, aids, assistances, benefits, boosts, handmaidens, help, abets, assists, eases, facilitates, smooths

Word Forms of Balks

Inflections: balked, balking

Derived words: balker (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Balks

Middle English balkyn "to leave an unplowed ridge between furrows, omit, neglect," verbal derivative of balk, balke "strip of unplowed land between fields" balk:2

First known use: 15th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Balks

What does "Balks" mean?

"Balks" means to refuse abruptly —used with at. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to refuse abruptly —used with at. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Balks"?

Other words for "Balks" include bars, blocks, chains, clogs, cramps, crimps, deterrents and drags. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Balks" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Balks"?

There are 93 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Balks". Common alternatives include bars, blocks, chains, clogs, cramps, crimps, deterrents, drags, embarrassments and encumbrances.

What is the opposite of "Balks"?

Antonyms of "Balks" include advances, cultivates, encourages, forwards, fosters, furthers, nurtures and promotes. Near antonyms include catalysts, goads, impetuses and incentives.

How do you use "Balks" in a sentence?

Examples of "Balks" in a sentence: "the constant interruptions proved to be a balk to the flow of conversation"; "a young man with big dreams who refused to be balked by the many challenges he faced in making them a reality".

Is "Balks" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Balks" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Balks"?

"Balks" is pronounced /ˈbȯk/.

What is the origin of the word "Balks"?

"Balks" comes from Middle English balkyn "to leave an unplowed ridge between furrows, omit, neglect," verbal derivative of balk, balke "strip of unplowed land between fields" balk:2. First known use: 15th centuryt.