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.

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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. )

Example Sentences

Doctors usually diagnose and treat insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea as separate disorders.

From Science Daily • Mar. 1, 2026

The drug is also approved to help treat moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

The former carer and assistant social worker had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease meaning she sometimes needed to use oxygen tanks.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

"We are knowingly sacrificing people here to cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma," he told AFP.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

In a recent study of the reaction to dying in patients with obstructive disease of the lungs, it was concluded that the process was considerably more shattering for the professional observers than the observed.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Related Words

• anti
• antithetical
• averse
• disputed
• hostile
• inimical
• opposing