stonewalling: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Neutral
Quick answer
What does “stonewalling” mean?
Refusing to answer questions or cooperate, especially in a deliberate and obstructive manner.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Refusing to answer questions or cooperate, especially in a deliberate and obstructive manner.
A strategy of non-cooperation, often by providing evasive, incomplete, or vague responses, used to delay, frustrate, or block a process, discussion, or investigation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is used in both varieties with the same core sense.
Connotations
Equally negative in both, implying deliberate obstructionism, often from a position of authority or defensiveness.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, particularly in political journalism and relationship advice literature.
Grammar
How to Use “stonewalling” in a Sentence
[Subject] engaged in stonewalling.[Subject] accused [Object] of stonewalling.The stonewalling by [Agent] continued.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stonewalling” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The minister continued to stonewall the committee's enquiries.
- He was accused of stonewalling the internal investigation.
American English
- The company stonewalled regulators for months.
- Stop stonewalling and just give us a straight answer.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board's stonewalling over the financial audit raised serious concerns among the shareholders.
Academic
The researcher criticized the government's stonewalling of Freedom of Information requests as a barrier to scholarly inquiry.
Everyday
Whenever we try to discuss our budget, he just resorts to stonewalling and changes the subject.
Technical
In conflict resolution theory, stonewalling is one of Gottman's 'Four Horsemen' predictive of relationship breakdown.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stonewalling”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stonewalling”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stonewalling”
- Using it to mean simply 'ignoring' (it's more active and strategic).
- Confusing it with 'stalling', which can be more passive and less confrontational.
- Misspelling as two words: 'stone walling'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, yes. The term carries the connotation of a deliberate, strategic choice to obstruct, not merely being uncommunicative due to shyness or ignorance.
'The silent treatment' is a broader refusal to engage in any communication, often as a punishment. 'Stonewalling' is more specific to avoiding or blocking a particular line of questioning or discussion, often while still being present.
Yes. The gerund (-ing) form 'stonewalling' is commonly used as a noun (e.g., 'His stonewalling was obvious'). The base verb is 'to stonewall'.
It is neutral to formal. It is common in journalism, academic writing, and professional contexts. In very casual everyday speech, people might use simpler terms like 'blocking' or 'refusing to talk'.
Refusing to answer questions or cooperate, especially in a deliberate and obstructive manner.
Stonewalling: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstəʊnˈwɔːlɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstoʊnˈwɔːlɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To hit a brick wall”
- “To give someone the runaround (related concepts)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone building a STONE WALL in front of you while you're asking questions. They are literally 'stonewalling' you, blocking all communication.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A PATH / OBSTRUCTION; REFUSAL TO COMMUNICATE IS BUILDING A WALL.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'stonewalling' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?