to thwart
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to thwart
To successfully prevent the execution of a plan, intention, or act.
Die Polizei konnte den Fluchtversuch des Gefangenen im letzten Moment vereiteln.
The police were able to thwart the prisoner's escape attempt at the last moment.
The verb 'vereiteln' (to thwart) has the inseparable prefix 'ver-'. It remains firmly attached to the stem 'eiteln' in all sentence forms.
Der Geheimdienst hat den Anschlag vereitelt.
The intelligence service thwarted the attack.
'Vereiteln' (to thwart) is always used with an accusative object. This object is the plan or action that is being prevented.
Ein aufmerksamer Nachbar vereitelte den Einbruch.
An attentive neighbor thwarted the break-in.
This verb is often used in official contexts such as police reports. Typical combinations are: 'einen Plan vereiteln' (to thwart a plan), 'einen Anschlag vereiteln' (to thwart an attack), 'einen Fluchtversuch vereiteln' (to thwart an escape attempt), or 'einen Raubüberfall vereiteln' (to thwart a robbery).
Die Küstenwache konnte den Schmuggel vereiteln.
The coast guard was able to thwart the smuggling.
'Vereiteln' (to thwart) is a written-language word and is used mainly in news, reports, or formal contexts. It is rather rare in everyday conversation.
Durch schnelles Handeln der Polizei wurde die Entführung vereitelt.
The kidnapping was thwarted through the police's quick action.
to prevent
Both words can express that a plan is not carried out. Verhindern is the general word and can also refer to preventive measures, while vereiteln usually emphasizes that a specific plan was successfully thwarted. Use verhindern for any kind of prevention and vereiteln especially for plans that have already been made.
Die Polizei nahm die Täter rechtzeitig fest und vereitelte ihren geplanten Einbruch.
The police arrested the perpetrators in time and thwarted their planned break-in.
Die Polizei stellte zusätzliche Streifen auf, um den Einbruch zu verhindern.
The police deployed additional patrols to prevent the break-in.
