impediment vs balk

impediment and balk both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
impediment	Yes	No	No	No
balk	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, impediment and balk are synonyms defined as:

impediment and balk: something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress

Other synonyms of impediment include baulk, check, deterrent, handicap, hinderance, hindrance.

impediment (noun)	balk (noun)
any structure that makes progress difficult	an illegal pitching motion while runners are on base
something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress	one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
	something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
	the area on a billiard table behind the balkline

impediment (verb)	balk (verb)
	refuse to comply