Block
Checkmate
Checkmate verb - To prevent from achieving a goal.
Usage example: finally checkmated the billionaire in his attempt to take over the movie studio
Block and checkmate are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Block" instead the word "Checkmate" as a verb or a noun.
Nearby Words: checkmated, checkmating
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
- If a player merely moves a friendly piece to block the attempt on their king, the attacker can immediately capture it, reasserting the original check and blocking the attempted counterattack (thus, not a checkmate).
Source: Surprise Checkmate - If a player moves their king to a safe square, even if this exposes a check attempt on the opponent's king by another friendly piece, the opponent can move their attacking piece to the recently vacated square to block the check attempt (thus, not a checkmate).
Source: Surprise Checkmate
Cite this Source
Checkmate and Block. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/block/checkmate
Block & Checkmate. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/block/checkmate>.
Checkmate or Block. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/block/checkmate.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "block" and "checkmate" have occurred on timeline