obstacle
noun
ob·sta·cle
ˈäb-sti-kəl 
-ˌsti-
: something that impedes progress or achievement
Mosquitoes were a great obstacle to the building of the Panama Canal.
… elders … often facing daily medical, social, and psychological obstacles.—
Vicki Bloom and B. B. Green-Field
Vicki Bloom and B. B. Green-FieldSynonyms
Examples of obstacle in a Sentence
He overcame the obstacles of poverty and neglect.
They must overcome a number of obstacles before the restaurant can be opened.
Lack of experience is a major obstacle for her opponent.
She swerved to avoid an obstacle in the road.
Recent Examples on the Web
Beijing will face obstacles to this strategy in Europe, since its de facto support for Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine is an albatross around Beijing’s effort to improve relations.
—Evan A. Feigenbaum, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
High costs and insurance gaps remain major obstacles to access.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 3 Jan. 2025
For Rosenberg, the bureaucratic obstacles to commemorating him mixed with other concerns that were harder to articulate.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
But his agenda faces obstacles, including potential legal challenges and pressure from major agricultural lobbies and business leaders whose workforces rely heavily on immigrants, including those who are in the country illegally.
—Taylor Giorno, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2025
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Evan A. Feigenbaum, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
High costs and insurance gaps remain major obstacles to access.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 3 Jan. 2025
For Rosenberg, the bureaucratic obstacles to commemorating him mixed with other concerns that were harder to articulate.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
But his agenda faces obstacles, including potential legal challenges and pressure from major agricultural lobbies and business leaders whose workforces rely heavily on immigrants, including those who are in the country illegally.
—Taylor Giorno, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for obstacle
Dictionary Entries Near obstacle
Cite this Entry
“Obstacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstacle. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obstacle
noun
ob·sta·cle
ˈäb-sti-kəl
: something that stands in the way of progress or achievement : hindrance
drove around the obstacles in the road
didn't let shortness be an obstacle to a basketball career
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