as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the many hurdles he had to overcome on the road to success
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in to overcome
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hurdle
Joel Frenette, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
New paperwork hurdles the House bill creates are also expected to result in people dropping or losing ACA coverage, according to the CBO.
—Kff Health News, Oc Register, 3 June 2025
Allison Aubrey, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
Artest has aspirations to set the program record and win the state championship in the 300 hurdles.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurdle
Noun
When in doubt, let machines hurdle the mundane—but save critical decisions, emotional moments and nuanced interactions for humans.
—Joel Frenette, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
New paperwork hurdles the House bill creates are also expected to result in people dropping or losing ACA coverage, according to the CBO.
—Kff Health News, Oc Register, 3 June 2025
Verb
In addition, some people struggle the everyday hurdles of making lifestyle changes.
—Allison Aubrey, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
Artest has aspirations to set the program record and win the state championship in the 300 hurdles.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurdle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurdle
Noun
-
The difficulty in getting rid of players other than those whose contracts expired this summer (Luka Modric, Lucas Vazquez and Jesus Vallejo) was a significant obstacle.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
To overcome this obstacle, the MIT team employed lithium-6 atoms, a rare isotope whose resonance frequency shifts depending on temperature.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Thank trade and industrialization, infrastructure investment, and leaps in health and education—all accelerated by affordable technology.—
Rich Karlgaard,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Woolen leaped to snag the ball but faded backward while doing so.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Outperforming some of them on the pitch is one thing, but Newcastle cannot yet overcome the off-field strength of the ‘Big Six’.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Part of the presentation focused on helping people overcome their fear of being ostracized for having plants seen as too wild.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The tractor-trailer, carrying beverages, rode along the median barrier, splitting open from the side and spilling bottles across the roadway, the fire department posted on Facebook.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Some cities install physical barriers like planters, bike racks, or other obstacles, to ensure compliance.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Huawei's market share in China jumped to 18% in the second quarter versus 15% in the same period last year, and the company is now the biggest smartphone vendor in China, Counterpoint Research data showed.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Whenever the boy went in for a meal, the girls would jump and attack.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
To surmount this problem, very specific protocols based on strict criteria are required to recognize an early supernova.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
19 Aug. 2025
-
The problems to surmount were structural: deindustrialization, entrenched segregation, economic marginalization—conditions shaped by Jim Crow, but not undone by its eclipse.—
Idrees Kahloon,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
Verb
-
Significantly, one study showed, fewer residents were skipping medications and more were getting regular care for chronic illnesses in a region that has some of the nation’s highest rates of diseases – including cancer.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Extreme Heat Leads to Missed Doctor's Appointments Extreme heat or cold can lead people—especially older adults and those with chronic conditions—to skip primary care visits.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The road to the playoffs begins Sunday in Indianapolis against the Colts, a team that bested them 16-10 in Lucas Oil Stadium nearly a year ago.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds bested the Sony and Apple earphones, and the second-generation model takes things to another level.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hurdle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurdle. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share