Definition of IMPEDE

Choose the Right Synonym for impede

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 impede in a Sentence

He claims that economic growth is being impeded by government regulations. The soldiers could not impede the enemy's advance.

Recent Examples on the Web

Vallée cuts to Camille’s childhood to reflect the fractured memories that impede her attempts at narrative clarity: her own and in her reporting. — Vogue, "Is Sharp Objects the Next Big Little Lies?," 3 July 2018 While the beach is open, visitors should expect to find a much narrower sand beach due to the erosion, higher water levels in Lake Michigan, and a nearby harbor structure that impedes sand flow. — Staff Report, Post-Tribune, "Community news," 3 July 2018 The Great Read Away is part of a multipart initiative that aims to eliminate policies or programs that impede citizen access to services. — Dean Paton, The Christian Science Monitor, "Literacy push: L.A. libraries allow young people to read away their fines," 18 June 2018 The auto industry based on Detroit depends on a supply chain that flows across borders to Canada and Mexico and tariffs — or anything that impedes that flow — could potentially force the costs of autos up, hurting automakers' bottom lines. — Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, "Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slams Trump on tariffs," 31 May 2018 Throughout the day both Juicers as well as the operations team keep an eye out for scooters that need to be charged or repaired as well as those that may have been dropped off in a way that impedes pedestrian traffic. — Johana Bhuiyan, Recode, "This is how Lime moves around and charges their dockless scooters in San Francisco," 20 May 2018 Other children’s hospitals that treat a sizeable number of out-of-state children also face barriers like these that ultimately impede patients’ access to care and payment to providers. — Nick Manetto, STAT, "Medicaid’s unnecessary barriers delay care for children with complex needs," 1 May 2018 Thousands have died in air strikes and from a naval blockade that impeded humanitarian aid. — Laura Litvan, Bloomberg.com, "Senate Scuttles Yemen Measure as Saudi Prince Meets With Trump," 20 Mar. 2018 The checks at North Station were suspended in January as Keolis sought to recover from the winter storm that sharply impeded service. — Adam Vaccaro, BostonGlobe.com, "Ticket checks coming soon to Back Bay commuter rail," 26 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impede.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.