hinder

1 of 2

verb

hin·​der ˈhin-dər How to pronounce hinder (audio)
hindered; hindering ˈhin-d(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce hinder (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to make slow or difficult the progress of : hamper
Their journey was hindered by snow and high winds.
economic growth hindered by sanctions
2
: to hold back : prevent, check
His financial troubles hindered him from buying a home.

intransitive verb

: to delay, impede, or prevent action
uncertain whether the changes would help or hinder
hinderer noun

hinder

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adjective

hind·​er ˈhīn-dər How to pronounce hinder (audio)
: situated behind or in the rear : posterior
a long oval forward part and a taillike hinder portionR. E. Coker
Choose the Right Synonym for hinder

hinder, impede, obstruct, block mean to interfere with the activity or progress of.

hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress.

rain hindered the climb

impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering.

tight clothing that impedes movement

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

block implies complete obstruction to passage or progress.

a landslide blocked the road

Examples of hinder in a Sentence

Verb The witness refused to cooperate, hindering the investigation. The country's economic growth is being hindered by the sanctions. It's not clear whether the change will help or hinder our project. Adjective the animal's case of mange was especially bad in its hinder parts
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
But the Education Department said the old system, which used an outdated programming language, would have hindered implementation of the new FAFSA. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 And as is common in war, collection of physical evidence was hindered by ongoing combat and a large, chaotic crime scene, as well as by Jewish burial traditions and Israeli officials' decision to prioritize identification of missing individuals over forensic analysis of bodies. Becky Sullivan, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024 Prejudice and animosity in society hinder op- portunities for trans women who, like everyone else, seek equal rights and opportunities. Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024 The true number could be even higher, as limited access to northern Gaza has hindered the ability of aid agencies to fully assess the situation there. Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 Conservation groups still worry that low genetic diversity among the wild population will hinder recovery. Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 Since Change Healthcare acts as a middleman between healthcare providers and insurance companies, the breach has hindered everyday transactions like electronic pharmacy refills and new insurance claims. Amrita Khalid, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2024 With these emotions, our saboteurs perpetuate a cycle of self-doubt and anxiety, hindering our ability to thrive. Mark Travers, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Let go of any limiting beliefs hindering your success. USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hinder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English hindren, from Old English hindrian; akin to Old English hinder behind

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English hinder, adverb — see hinder entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hinder was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hinder

Cite this Entry

“Hinder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hinder. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hinder

verb
hin·​der
ˈhin-dər
hindered; hindering
-d(ə-)riŋ
1
: to make slow or difficult : hamper
progress was hindered by bad weather
2
: to hold back : check

More from Merriam-Webster on hinder

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