obstructionist

American  

[uhb-struhk-shuh-nist] / əbˈstrʌk ʃə nɪst /

noun

1. a person who deliberately delays or prevents progress.

2. a person who delays or obstructs the business before a legislative body by parliamentary contrivances or legalistic maneuvers.

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obstructionist British  

/ əbˈstrʌkʃənɪst /

noun

1. 1. a person who deliberately obstructs business, esp in a legislature

   2. ( as modifier )

      obstructionist tactics

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Other Word Forms

• obstructionism
  noun
• obstructionistic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of obstructionist

First recorded in 1840–50; obstruction + -ist

Example Sentences

Your hand, Billy," cried the carpenter groping about in the dark, "I see you are better, and have taken up your character again of Chief Obstructionist.

From The Life of a Celebrated Buccaneer A Page of Past History for the Use of the Children of To-day by Clynton, Richard

This was applause from the enemy, for Lecher himself, like Wolf, was an Obstructionist.

From The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories by Twain, Mark