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

Emotional Women Telenovelas have largely reinforced the image of Latin American women as highly emotional and unstable figures who could only reach happiness by way of a sequence of obstacles. — Damaly Gonzalez, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

The court’s decision greenlighting the settlement was the last obstacle to CEO David Ellison marrying two legacy Hollywood studios to create the next entertainment and media colossus. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

High prices and the flood program’s conflicting goals High prices are a worsening obstacle. — Michael Phillis, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

The bigger obstacle is the script that families hand their kids. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 Sep. 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