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balk
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- pronunciation:
- bawk
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
balks, balking, balked |
| definition 1: |
to stop suddenly and refuse to go on.
The horse balked before the gate.- synonyms:
- hesitate, pause, stop
- similar words:
- evade, flinch, halt, refuse
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| definition 2: |
to refuse to do some act (usually followed by "at").
Emma balked at her chores.- synonyms:
- shrink from, steer clear of
- similar words:
- dodge, refuse, stall
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| definition 3: |
to block the progress of; stop.
An injury balked the racer's hope of winning.- synonyms:
- check, hinder, stop
- antonyms:
- assist
- similar words:
- bar, block, defeat, disappoint, obstruct, prevent, stall
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| related words: |
dash, hesitate, shrink |
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| derivations: |
balkingly (adv.), balker (n.) |
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