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Synonyms

obstructive

American  
[uhb-struhk-tiv] / əbˈstrʌk tɪv /

adjective

  1. blocking a passage or view.

    The scheme aimed to improve traffic circulation by removing obstructive parking.

  2. interrupting, hindering, or opposing the progress or course of some process.

    This is an opportunity to share different viewpoints, so feel free to do so; but if disagreement becomes obstructive, we will not achieve our aims.

  3. Pathology. characterized by a blockage, as of an airway, blood vessel, duct, or other passage in the body.

    Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder involving repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep.

Other Word Forms

  • nonobstructive adjective
  • nonobstructively adverb
  • nonobstructiveness noun
  • obstructively adverb
  • obstructiveness obstructivity noun
  • unobstructive adjective

Etymology

Origin of obstructive

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin obstruct(us), past participle of obstruere ( obstruct ( def. ) ), + -ive ( def. )

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.