obstacle

American  

[ob-stuh-kuhl] / ˈɒb stə kəl /

noun

obstacles plural

1. something that obstructs or hinders progress.

   Antonyms:

   help

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obstacle British  

/ ˈɒbstəkəl /

noun

1. a person or thing that opposes or hinders something

2. a fence or hedge used in showjumping

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Synonym Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• obstacles
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

obstacle obstacles

Based on Homer's ancient epic poem, the film tracks hero Odysseus as he faces obstacle after obstacle on his way home from the Trojan War.

From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026

Discovery WBD 2.73%increase; green up pointing triangle , presenting the biggest obstacle for a deal that will combine two of Hollywood’s biggest producers and distributors of entertainment and news content.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

That’s a cultural obstacle that will be difficult to clear.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026

Another obstacle comes from the expansion of the universe.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 2026

“May we please climb it instead? I am not dressed for an obstacle course. We’ll make it worth your while.”

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

When experiments encounter obstacles, Macauley encourages the team to keep investigating rather than stop.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026

However, compared to a premium of 38%, these are negligible and without unforeseen obstacles, hedge funds and proprietary trading desks will be queuing up to put the trade on.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

"What we might see instead is a kind of opportunity to show that the process is still in place... that there are negotiations continuing despite the opposition and the obstacles that are beginning to emerge."

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

CLACTON-ON-SEA, England—Nigel Farage has overcome some unusual obstacles in his political career.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

“Well, you don’t have your destination or the obstacles marked most of the time, which is much the same thing.”

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

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