hinder

[ hin-der ]

See synonyms for: hinder hindered hindering hinders on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to cause delay, interruption, or difficulty in; hamper; impede: The storm hindered our progress.
to prevent from doing, acting, or happening; stop: to hinder a man from committing a crime.

verb (used without object)

to be an obstacle or impediment.

Origin of hinder

First recorded before 1000; from Middle English hindren, Old English hindrian “to hold back,” equivalent to hinder hinder² + -ian, causative verb suffix

synonym study For hinder

2. See prevent.

Other words for hinder

1	encumber, obstruct, trammel
2	block, deter

See synonyms for hinder on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for hinder

encourage

See antonyms for hinder on Thesaurus.com

Other words from hinder

hin·der·er, noun

Other definitions for hinder (2 of 2)

hinder²

[ hahyn-der ]

adjective

situated at the rear or back; posterior: the hinder part of a carcass.

noun

Chiefly Northern and North Midland U.S. the buttocks.

Origin of hinder

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; compare Old English hinder (adverb) “behind”; cognate with German hinter (preposition) “behind”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hinder in a sentence

Potholes are common in the rainy region as well as a heavy fog that often hinders visibility.
The Road to Cinco de Mayo | Tania Lara | May 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Or a sibling may have a learning disability that hinders his or her efforts.
The Struggles of Benjamin Franklin’s Sister Jane | Annette Gordon-Reed | November 21, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Business claims that uncertainty in fiscal policy hinders its ability to make plans and invest.
Mystery Solved: Here’s Why Big Business Keeps Supporting Republicans Even as Republicans Destroy the Economy | Daniel Gross | October 3, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Dr. Elahi argued that the lack of access to the law also hinders medical efforts in rural areas.
Female Judges From Around the Globe Convene in D.C. | Eve Conant | April 2, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
It hinders the immune system, causes insomnia, and speeds the atrophy of the brain, to name a few.
How to Live Forever | Casey Schwartz | July 29, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST

Let me undeceive those who think thus, and let them go on reading, if nothing but such a fear hinders them.
Camille (La Dame aux Camilias) | Alexandre Dumas, fils
Naturally the question of marriage arose at once, and, if nothing hinders it, our wedding is to take place in the summer.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky | Modeste Tchaikovsky
As the sex organs are also the channels for the elimination of waste, exaggerated modesty often hinders discussion.
Report of the Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents | Oswald Chettle Mazengarb et al.
It hinders others who are clearer intellectually: they see and despise the mistakes, and are not inspired by the purpose.
The College, the Market, and the Court | Caroline H. Dall
What hinders these women from rushing to the help of one another, just as two drops of water on a leaf rush together and make one?
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 97, November, 1865 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for hinder (1 of 2)

hinder¹

/ (ˈhɪndə) /

verb

to be or get in the way of (someone or something); hamper
(tr) to prevent

Origin of hinder

Old English hindrian; related to Old Norse hindra, Old High German hintarōn

Derived forms of hinder

hinderer, noun
hindering, adjective, noun

British Dictionary definitions for hinder (2 of 2)

hinder²

/ (ˈhaɪndə) /

adjective

(prenominal) situated at or further towards the back or rear; posterior: the hinder parts

Origin of hinder

Old English; related to Old Norse hindri latter, Gothic hindar beyond, Old High German hintar behind

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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