1
as in impeding
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
this would go much faster if you would stop obstructing me with your constant interruptions
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blocking
to prevent passage through by filling with something
at the moment the city's only tunnel between downtown and the airport is obstructed by an overturned tanker truck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obstructing
He was recaptured and indicted on a charge of obstructing a pending immigration proceeding.
—
CBS News, 17 June 2026
Victoriano pleaded guilty to obstructing arrest and received unsupervised probation.
—Shannon Tyler
june 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 June 2026
He was recaptured and indicted on a charge of obstructing a pending immigration proceeding.
—ABC News, 16 June 2026
Jose was accused of obstructing officers and was fined $150 or face one month in prison.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
Viewing immigration enforcement through a reproductive justice lens reveals how access to care, bodily autonomy and community stability are deeply connected – and how obstructing them has real health consequences.
—Jallicia Jolly, The Conversation, 15 June 2026
Articles of impeachment were brought against him on two counts, for allegedly abusing his power through his dealings with Zelenskyy and then allegedly obstructing the House’s investigation into the matter.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Those arrested were hit with various charges including assault on a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing government administration, officials said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Police said two other people were cited for obstructing officers during their investigation into the collision.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
CBS News, 17 June 2026
Victoriano pleaded guilty to obstructing arrest and received unsupervised probation.
—Shannon Tyler
june 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 June 2026
He was recaptured and indicted on a charge of obstructing a pending immigration proceeding.
—ABC News, 16 June 2026
Jose was accused of obstructing officers and was fined $150 or face one month in prison.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
Viewing immigration enforcement through a reproductive justice lens reveals how access to care, bodily autonomy and community stability are deeply connected – and how obstructing them has real health consequences.
—Jallicia Jolly, The Conversation, 15 June 2026
Articles of impeachment were brought against him on two counts, for allegedly abusing his power through his dealings with Zelenskyy and then allegedly obstructing the House’s investigation into the matter.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Those arrested were hit with various charges including assault on a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing government administration, officials said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Police said two other people were cited for obstructing officers during their investigation into the collision.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstructing
Verb
-
Protests outside the gates have shown activists pummeling cars, impeding the exits and in some cases getting hurled out of the way after collisions with vehicles attempting to speed away from the violent activists.—
Eric Mack,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
-
Over the years, the number of cars parking near the bridge — often illegally, sometimes impeding emergency vehicles — has risen.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Residents should be able to drive down public streets, park their vehicles, access businesses, or return home without having their property damaged or being trapped by crowds blocking roadways and intersections.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
-
Biden moved to intervene and asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the disclosure.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Winds of up to 50 mph stoked the flames and severely limited the fire response by hampering boat and aircraft access to the remote island.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
The systematic dismantling of USAID has led to catastrophic humanitarian situations in Africa, including hampering the global response to the current Ebola outbreak.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
This forced its social life underground, hindering community building.—
Peter Su,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
So the rule is hindering governments' efforts to expand access to electricity and meet climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Then to Sydney Harbour, the very scene of that embarrassing capsize exactly a year earlier, and the Americans won the event outright for a first win since October 2023.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
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Lutnick's voluntary closed-door interview comes amid a monthslong procession of powerful people summoned before the committee, many of whom have been subjected to embarrassing revelations in the more than 3 million pages of records known as the Epstein files.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obstructing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstructing. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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