Synonyms for obstruction
Most common
barrier obstacle impediment hindrance road block impedance blockage
All synonyms
Noun
1. Impediment — something which obstructs or impedes, either intentionally or unintentionally
impediment, obstacle, hindrance, barrier, difficulty, stop, interruption, block, clog, opposition, arrest, delay, blockade, suppression, stoppage, restraint, prevention, inhibition, stumbling block, check, cramp, let
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
Something which obstructs or impedes, either intentionally or unintentionally
The referee stopped play because of an obstruction by the defender.
Related words
- Word family
- obstructionist
- Phrases
- intestinal obstruction bowel obstruction
Forms
- Plural
- obstructions → impediments, obstacles, hindrances, barriers…
Choose the right word
An impediment is primarily something that checks the foot or in any way makes advance slow or difficult; an obstacle is something that stands across the way, an obstruction something that is built or placed across the way.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- barrier There was a language barrier between Ziri and Rima.
- obstacle Bypassing this obstacle, you find your way again.
- impediment Impatience is a definite impediment to success.
- hindrance Those new rules were more of a hindrance than a help.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| obstruction | steady | |
| barrier | steady | |
| obstacle | steady | |
| impediment | steady | |
| hindrance | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- let1
- 4 letters
- stop1, clog1
- 5 letters
- check1, block1, delay2, cramp1
- 6 letters
- arrest2
- 7 letters
- barrier3
- 8 letters
- obstacle3, blockade2, stoppage2, blockage2
- 9 letters
- restraint2, impedance3, hindrance2
- 10 letters
- opposition4, difficulty4, prevention3, inhibition4, impediment4
- 11 letters
- suppression3
- 12 letters
- interruption4
- 13 letters
- contravention4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (delay2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- obstruction
- Italiano
- ostruzione
- Español
- obstrucción
- Deutsch
- Obstruktion
- Català
- obstrucció