stymie (someone or something)
To delay, obstruct, or thwart someone or something. If you think I'm going to let some bratty upstart stymie my plans of becoming governor, you've got another think coming! Rescue attempts are being stymied by record snowfall.
stymie
(ˈstɑɪmi) tv. to obstruct someone or something. He did everything he could to stymie the investigation.