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thwart

noun verb adjective adverb preposition

A seat across a boat on which a rower may sit.

Quick reference

Word Facts

Word length
6
Starts with
T
Ends with
T
Contains
HWAR
Scrabble score
12
Database source
OEWN 2025 Core

How it sounds

Pronunciation

/θwɔːt/ /θwɔ(ə)ɹt/

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Audio Pronunciation

Meaning

Definitions

noun

  1. A seat across a boat on which a rower may sit.

    “The fisherman sat on the aft thwart to row.”

  2. A brace, perpendicular to the keel, that helps maintain the beam of a marine vessel against external water pressure and that may serve to support the rail.

    “A well-made dugout canoe rarely needs a thwart.”

  3. An act of thwarting; something which thwarts; a hindrance, an obstacle.

verb

  1. To cause to fail; to frustrate, to prevent.

    “Our plans for a picnic were thwarted by the thunderstorm.”

  2. To place (something) across (another thing); to position crosswise.

  3. To hinder or obstruct by placing (something) in the way of; to block, to impede, to oppose.

  4. To move (something) across or counter to; to cross.

    “An arrow thwarts the air.”

adjective

  1. Placed or situated across something else; cross, oblique, transverse.

  2. Of people: having a tendency to oppose; obstinate, perverse, stubborn.

  3. Of situations or things: adverse, unfavourable, unlucky.

adverb

  1. Across the direction of travel or length of; athwart, crosswise, obliquely, transversely.

preposition

  1. Across, athwart.

In context

Example Sentences

The fisherman sat on the aft thwart to row.
A well-made dugout canoe rarely needs a thwart.
Our plans for a picnic were thwarted by the thunderstorm.
An arrow thwarts the air.

Similar words

Synonyms

Opposite words

Antonyms

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