checkmates

verb

present tense third-person singular of checkmate
as in frustrates
to prevent from achieving a goal finally checkmated the billionaire in his attempt to take over the movie studio

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for checkmates
  1. frustrates
  2. baffles
  3. hampers
  4. thwarts
  5. defeats
Verb
  • What frustrates him more is the way Americans talk about those caught in it.
    — Victor Dey, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • That distinction — chosen versus imposed — is what separates a line that builds anticipation from one that simply frustrates.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 31 July 2026
Definition of frustrates
Verb
  • Meanwhile, McGrew agreed to adjustments, including adding baffles to reduce sound from a attached generator for the tower and replacing tower fencing that incorporated barbed wire with taller, more natural looking fencing.
    — Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
  • Using humane methods like squirrel baffles and tree nets can effectively keep squirrels out of your fruit trees.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026
Definition of baffles
Verb
  • That marks a 37% increase from the same time last year, as the Iran war hampers oil supply.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The lack of open pores in the soil also hampers the movement of air and water.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of hampers
Verb
  • Another tactic is treating ship hulls with special paint that thwarts unwanted hitchhikers from latching on.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
  • In Homer’s Odyssey, Poseidon thwarts Odysseus’ journey back to Ithaca while Athena intervenes to help him.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 20 July 2026
Definition of thwarts
Verb
  • If the opposition defeats the ballot measure in November, billionaires will avoid that liability.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Seven Democratic incumbents have lost their primaries so far, already tying with 2012 for the most Democratic House incumbent defeats this century.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of defeats
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

checkmated
checkmates
checkmating
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Cite this Entry

“Checkmates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/checkmates. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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