obstacle
Americannoun
noun
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a person or thing that opposes or hinders something
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a fence or hedge used in showjumping
Related Words
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.
Etymology
Origin of obstacle
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
Explanation
When the road is blocked ahead of you, that blockage is an obstacle that keeps you from getting where you want to go. The Latin word that is the source of the word obstacle combines parts that mean "to stand in the way of," so an obstacle is something that stands against what you want to do. In a dramatic piece, the obstacle is the person or thing that keeps a character from achieving his or her goal. This creates the conflict in a play: since conflict is what drama is all about, the obstacle is the source of all drama.
Vocabulary lists containing obstacle
Michelle Obama's final address as First Lady (2017)
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Code Talker
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"Earth and Space"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
However, the lack of action on Iran’s nuclear program could be an obstacle.
From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026
On Friday, a key obstacle on that road was removed when the US Justice Department said it was dropping -- for now -- the criminal probe into Powell over the renovation project's cost overruns.
From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026
“And it’s a direct obstacle to growth, to fairness, to opportunities, and to the long-term success of projects like this one.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026
The housing crash of the late 2000s was a major obstacle as Gen X started building wealth.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
That was not the obstacle that she had begged for so much.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
