French Conversation · Level 153
30 words
French word
contrecarrer
Pronunciation
IPA/kɔ̃tʁəkaʁe/
Meaning
- verbfoil
Example
La pluie a contrecarré notre pique-nique.
The rain foiled our picnic.
More examples
Ses concurrents ont contrecarré son projet commercial.
His competitors thwarted his business project.
Core concept
An action loses the means it needs when an opposing force blocks its route.
Common phrases
contrecarrer un projet
thwart a project
contrecarrer une initiative
thwart an initiative
Similar words
empêcher: Prevent a plan or action from happening.
gêner: Make an action or task harder to carry out successfully.
contrarier: Frustrate expectations or plans and cause inconvenience.
Definition in French
Mettre des obstacles ou neutraliser les moyens d'une action de façon à l'empêcher d'aboutir.
Word origin
French formed contrecarrer with contre- and carrer, ultimately related to Latin quadrāre, with the compound developing the sense of frustrating an action.
Usage tips
- Contrecarrer is relatively formal and is especially common in analytical or journalistic prose, while gêner is often more conversational.
Other meanings
- frustrateverb
Opposites
- encouragerencourageverb
- faciliterfacilitateverb