obstructive
Americanadjective
-
blocking a passage or view.
The scheme aimed to improve traffic circulation by removing obstructive parking.
-
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.
-
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. )
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.
Anton Hammer, 72, who suffers from Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease said he was constantly visiting his GP with recurrent chest infections before the charity helped him.
From BBC
Recent approvals for conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, where Dupixent has been approved as an add-on treatment, “are progressing well and expected to drive steady franchise growth.”
From Barron's
It said they had "unacceptably poor and obstructive returns processes" and accused the countries of refusing to process paperwork and requiring individuals to sign their own documents – effectively allowing them to block their own deportations.
From Barron's
It had warned that the three countries faced penalties for their "unacceptably poor and obstructive returns processes".
From BBC
This pollutant has been associated with asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, preterm birth, diabetes, and lung cancer.
From Science Daily
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.