Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To engage in delaying tactics; stall.
  • intransitive verb To refuse to answer or cooperate.
  • intransitive verb Sports To play defensively rather than trying to score in cricket.
  • intransitive verb To refuse to answer or cooperate with; resist or rebuff.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A refusal to cooperate.
  • verb informal To refuse to answer or cooperate, especially in supplying information.
  • adjective UK, idiomatic Certain, stone cold.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb engage in delaying tactics or refuse to cooperate
  • verb obstruct or hinder any discussion

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • Salazar now has someone in Sheriff Mink who is willing to help him instead of the term stonewall in his efforts to get to some of these answers.

    CNN Transcript Feb 27, 2004 2004

  • Ipswich boss Jewell believed his side had been denied what he called a "stonewall penalty".

    NEWS.com.au | Top Stories 2012

  • Nevertheless, liberals are furious about what they're calling a stonewall tactic, reminiscent of the Bush-Cheney years.

    CNN Transcript May 13, 2009 2009

  • I would agree that groups such as stonewall should be allowed to campaign thereby improving the attitudes of people, I just disagree that there moral views ought to be legally enforced by forcing those who disagree with them to associate with people they do not approve of.

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2009

  • It looks as though King County elections officials "stonewall" just about everyone.

    Sound Politics: Hell hath no fury 2006

  • If you run into a "stonewall" with a question or investigation, that stonewall is now wider and more impenetrable than it was 40 years ago.

    We Are What We Read and See. Too Bad it's not the Truth 2007

  • Unless something radical changes, it still doesn’t appear that this stonewall will be a very effective defense.

    Is Yahoo’s Letter the First Concession? - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com 2008

  • Unless something radical changes, it still doesn’t appear that this stonewall will be a very effective defense.

    Is Yahoo’s Letter the First Concession? - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com 2008

  • Dr. Carol Swain Lewis, an English teacher at Three Rivers who served as a judge, said it was "heart wrenching" to watch some of the students seemingly rush through the words, but she picked up that she had to keep a "stonewall" face on the panel, as to not make it visible that she was emotionally involved.

    seMissourian.com Headlines 2010

  • Dr. Carol Swain Lewis, an English teacher at Three Rivers who served as a judge, said it was "heart wrenching" to watch some of the students seemingly rush through the words, but she picked up that she had to keep a "stonewall" face on the panel, as to not make it visible that she was emotionally involved.

    seMissourian.com Headlines 2010

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