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
DigitalOcean and Hugging Face’s new alliance aims at making artificial intelligence more accessible, particularly for startups and small to medium-sized businesses that have historically faced obstacles in integrating advanced technology.
—Janakiram Msv, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
However, the network met an unexpected obstacle given the importance of an online presence.
—Jim Halterman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024
Staffing would likewise be a major obstacle in the US without a significant increase in wages to recruit and retain workers.
—Rachel M. Cohen, Vox, 30 Oct. 2024
Despite the growing calls for free trade and progressive taxation, the movement to supplant regressive tariffs with progressive taxes faced numerous obstacles.
—Ajay K. Mehrotra / Made By History, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obstacle 
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Janakiram Msv, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
However, the network met an unexpected obstacle given the importance of an online presence.
—Jim Halterman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024
Staffing would likewise be a major obstacle in the US without a significant increase in wages to recruit and retain workers.
—Rachel M. Cohen, Vox, 30 Oct. 2024
Despite the growing calls for free trade and progressive taxation, the movement to supplant regressive tariffs with progressive taxes faced numerous obstacles.
—Ajay K. Mehrotra / Made By History, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obstacle
Dictionary Entries Near obstacle
Cite this Entry
“Obstacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstacle. Accessed 10 Nov. 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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