obstacle

[ob-stuh-kuhl]

noun

1. something that obstructs or hinders progress.

   Antonyms: help

obstacle

/ ˈɒbstəkəl /

noun

1. a person or thing that opposes or hinders something

2. a fence or hedge used in showjumping

Word History and Origins

Origin of obstacle¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin obstāculum, equivalent to obstā(re) “to face, block, hinder” ( ob- ob- + stāre stand ) + -culum -cle ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of obstacle¹

C14: via Old French from Latin obstāculum, from obstāre, from ob- against + stāre to stand

Synonym Study

Obstacle, obstruction, hindrance, impediment refer to something that interferes with or prevents action or progress. An obstacle is something, material or nonmaterial, that stands in the way of literal or figurative progress: Lack of imagination is an obstacle to one's advancement. An obstruction is something that more or less completely blocks a passage: A blood clot is an obstruction to the circulation. A hindrance keeps back by interfering and delaying: Interruptions are a hindrance to one's work. An impediment interferes with proper functioning: an impediment in one's speech.

Example Sentences

But it will be hard for the U.S. to scale up rare-earth production in the short term, and maybe even the medium term, not least because of destructive U.S. permitting obstacles.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Since January, the group has said it lost contact with some cells holding hostages amid the fighting, adding another obstacle.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Beijing has also filed a huge number of patents on rare earth production, an obstacle to companies in other countries hoping to launch large-scale processing.

Read more on Barron's

At other businesses, he has dropped through the wrong part of the roof, finding his path blocked by a freezer or other obstacle.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He called for "more crossings open and a genuine, practical, problem-solving approach to removing remaining obstacles" and said "withholding aid from civilians is not a bargaining chip".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• barrier 
• difficulty 
• disincentive 
• hardship 
• hindrance 
• hitch 
• hurdle 
• impediment 
• interference 
• obstruction 
• restriction 
• snag 
• stumbling block