stonewall
|stone/wall|
🇺🇸
/ˈstoʊnˌwɔl/
🇬🇧
/ˈstəʊnˌwɔːl/
refuse to cooperate; block progress
Etymology
'stonewall' in its figurative sense (to refuse to cooperate or to obstruct) developed in the 19th century U.S.; this usage was influenced by the image of standing like a "stone wall" (famously associated with Confederate general Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson) and came to be used of deliberate obstruction.
'stonewall' is originally a compound of the English words 'stone' (Old English 'stān') and 'wall' (Old English 'weall' from Proto-Germanic); it began as a literal term for a wall built of stone and later took on figurative senses.
Originally it meant 'a wall made of stone' (literal physical barrier); over time it acquired a figurative meaning of 'refusing to cooperate or deliberately obstructing', which is common in modern political, legal, and conversational use.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a wall made of stone; a stone-built barrier.
They built a stonewall around the garden.
Synonyms
Noun 2
an act or instance of obstructing, refusing to cooperate, or deliberately delaying (often in negotiations, inquiries, or legal/political contexts).
The politician's stonewall prevented any progress on the reform.
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Verb 1
to block or delay (a process, investigation, or discussion) by refusing to answer, cooperate, or provide information; to obstruct deliberately.
When asked for details, the company stonewalled the reporters.
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Verb 2
to stand firm or remain unmoved (historical/literary sense, from literal image of being like a stone wall).
Faced with accusations, she stonewalled and refused to change her statement.
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Last updated: 2026/01/12 21:34