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
During her visit, Aparicio listened to several of the stories about the obstacles the women had to overcome to achieve acceptance, which is still not complete.
—Jad El Reda, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2024
The study, which was released May 23, recommends working to remove those obstacles and tailoring services and programs to the needs of older people, much like providers do for those with behavioral issues.
—Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 2 June 2024
The report, which examined various obstacles in saving for retirement among baby boomers, Generation X, millennials, and Generation Z, found that younger generations were far more confident in their ability to reach their goals.
—Byalicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 30 May 2024
For over a decade, Woodruff worked as a flight attendant and observed the various obstacles passengers faced at the airport, especially those with small children.
—Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 27 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for obstacle 
Jad El Reda, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2024
The study, which was released May 23, recommends working to remove those obstacles and tailoring services and programs to the needs of older people, much like providers do for those with behavioral issues.
—Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 2 June 2024
The report, which examined various obstacles in saving for retirement among baby boomers, Generation X, millennials, and Generation Z, found that younger generations were far more confident in their ability to reach their goals.
—Byalicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 30 May 2024
For over a decade, Woodruff worked as a flight attendant and observed the various obstacles passengers faced at the airport, especially those with small children.
—Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 27 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for obstacle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obstacle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Obstacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstacle. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
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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