hinder 1 of 2

as in rear
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part the animal's case of mange was especially bad in its hinder parts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hinder

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb hinder contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hinder are block, impede, and obstruct. While all these words mean "to interfere with the activity or progress of," hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress.

rain hindered the climb

Where would block be a reasonable alternative to hinder?

The words block and hinder can be used in similar contexts, but block implies complete obstruction to passage or progress.

a landslide blocked the road

When would impede be a good substitute for hinder?

The words impede and hinder are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering.

tight clothing that impedes movement

When could obstruct be used to replace hinder?

The meanings of obstruct and hinder largely overlap; however, obstruct implies interfering with something in motion or in progress by the sometimes intentional placing of obstacles in the way.

the view was obstructed by billboards

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 hinder
Verb
Firefighters also said that rescue efforts were hindered by low water pressure. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025 The show leaves us with the reminder that without proper investment in healthcare infrastructure, even the most skilled medical teams can be hindered in their efforts to save lives. Isadora Wandermurem, TIME, 25 Jan. 2025 Such responses hinder the efficacy of gene editing treatments and could also be detrimental, eliminating the cells targeted for modification. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025 They’ve been hindered by a lack of port access on the West Coast. Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for hinder 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hinder
Adjective
  • There are two four-wheel drive systems on offer, part-time and full-time, and a two-wheel drive setup on the SR5 with a standard rear limited-slip differential.
    Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
  • An investigation revealed the suspects had entered the residence by smashing a rear sliding glass door, police said.
    Jason Green, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Walker, in fact, explains that one of the by-products of alcohol metabolism is a class of chemicals, known as aldehydes, that are especially prone to impede REM sleep.
    Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
  • These teams all have franchise players to build around and some contracts that would impede them from fully committing to the tear-down process.
    Shayna Goldman, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But just as Maresca’s team grew steadily more passive after taking the lead, so too did Jackson fail to press home his advantage against a back line exploited by a wide range of attackers in recent weeks.
    Sam Lee, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Two kitchen knives were found outside the back door of the home, police said.
    Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Both homebuyers and current homeowners are hampered by today’s higher interest rates.
    Diana Olick, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2025
  • During major emergencies that communication can be hampered by issues such as limited radio connectivity, wind noise or other technical problems.
    Christopher L. Keller, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Mapes’ effort to obstruct the federal investigation was ultimately unsuccessful as prosecutors moved forward with charges against Madigan and several others as part of the sweeping probe.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
  • There’s a pesky column at the corner, which manages to just barely obstruct sightlines — though perhaps this has meaning of its own, revealing a potential non-linguistic barrier between us and them, while also helping to give the classroom its necessary claustrophobic tension.
    Christian Lewis, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Trump called on Budde and the church to apologize for embarrassing him by allowing Budde to deliver a rare rebuke to his face.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Funny Birthday Messages For Mom Happy birthday to the woman who gave me life – and plenty of embarrassing baby pictures!
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near hinder

Cite this Entry

“Hinder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hinder. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

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