obstacle

noun

ob·​sta·​cle ˈäb-sti-kəl 

-ˌsti-

: something that impedes progress or achievement

swerved to avoid an obstacle in the road

Lack of experience proved to be an obstacle in her job search.

… elders … often facing daily medical, social, and psychological obstacles.

—Vicki Bloom and B. B. Green-Field

Synonyms of obstacle

• hurdle
• obstruction
• embarrassment
• barrier

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

That's a particularly big obstacle for Meta, which just agreed to an almost $17 billion settlement with a group of states that alleged the company misrepresented the extent of child mental health harms caused by apps like Facebook and Instagram. — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

Getting a diagnosis, navigating treatment and paying for care can present obstacles of their own, particularly for patients who face gaps in access to healthcare. — Roni Robbins, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Those are big potential obstacles to Hill returning to the Chiefs. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026

In some parts of Africa, the obstacles to foreign investment are more acute. — Jared Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin obstaculum, from obstare to stand in front of, from ob- in the way + stare to stand — more at ob-, stand

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing obstacle

• obstacle course
• obstacle race

Kids 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