obstruction
Americannoun
-
something that obstructs, blocks, or closes up with an obstacle or obstacles; obstacle or hindrance.
obstructions to navigation.
- Synonyms:
- impediment, bar, barrier
- Antonyms:
- encouragement
-
an act or instance of obstructing.
-
the state of being obstructed.
- Synonyms:
- stoppage
- Antonyms:
- encouragement
-
the delaying or preventing of business before a deliberative body, especially a legislative group, by parliamentary contrivances.
noun
-
a person or thing that obstructs
-
the act or an instance of obstructing
-
delay of business, esp in a legislature by means of procedural devices
-
sport the act of unfairly impeding an opposing player
-
the state or condition of being obstructed
Related Words
See obstacle.
Other Word Forms
- obstructional adjective
- obstructionally adverb
- preobstruction noun
Etymology
Origin of obstruction
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin obstructiōn- (stem of obstructiō ) “barrier.” See obstruct, -ion
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.
Dozens of participants were later charged with misdemeanor offenses related to unlawful assembly and obstruction, with many ultimately placed into diversion programs requiring community service.
From Los Angeles Times
The executive is being investigated by Italian prosecutors in a case related to allegations of supervisory obstruction and market manipulation.
Ships departing Canada’s west coast can reach Asia’s east coast, without obstructions, in less time.
From Barron's
The research underscores how many variables affect robotic harvesting, including how tomatoes cluster, the shape and position of stems, surrounding leaves, and visual obstruction.
From Science Daily
More than half of those killed - 33 - have been in Nairobi, where poor drainage has been a major factor, along with the obstruction of rivers caused by unregulated development.
From BBC
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.
