obstruct

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verb ob·struct \ əb-ˈstrəkt , äb- \

Definition of obstruct

transitive verb

1 :to block or close up by an obstacle

A piece of food obstructed his airway.

The road was obstructed by a fallen tree.

2 :to hinder from passage, action, or operation :impede

Constant interruptions obstruct our progress.

was charged with obstructing justice by lying to investigators

3 :to cut off from sight

A wall obstructs the view.

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obstructive

play \əb-ˈstrək-tiv, äb-\ adjective or noun

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obstructiveness

noun

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obstructor

play \əb-ˈstrək-tər, äb-\ noun

See obstruct defined for English-language learners

See obstruct defined for kids

Examples of obstruct in a Sentence

A large tree obstructed the road.
A piece of food obstructed his airway and caused him to stop breathing.
She was charged with obstructing police.
She was charged with obstructing justice by lying to investigators.

Recent Examples of obstruct from the Web

The New York Times reports the state will investigate whether St. Paul’s endangered its students or obstructed government operations.

— lisa ryan, The Cut, "New Hampshire Is Launching a Criminal Investigation Into St. Paul’s School Over Sexual-Abuse Claims," 14 July 2017
Currie suspects there may be many more such deaths since as many as 100 Kentucky infants die each year from what's classified as Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, or SUID — often linked to suffocation when a sleeping infant's airway is obstructed.

— deborah yetter, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky drug epidemic's smallest victims: Babies dying in their sleep," 6 July 2017
Most such deaths involve suffocation, where a baby's airway was obstructed.

— deborah yetter, The Courier-Journal, "It's life or death: Don't sleep with your baby, expert says," 6 July 2017
Perhaps those witnesses’ viewing angles were limited or obstructed.

— michael mccann, SI.com, "Legal hurdles face Venus Williams after her involvement in fatal car accident," 1 July 2017
The U is no exception, exploring the longstanding racial and economic factors obstructing entry to the University of Miami.

— christina newland, Esquire, "The 20 Best Documentaries in ESPN's 30 for 30 Series," 29 June 2017
A lack of understanding is not an excuse to obstruct outstanding journalism.

— felix kalvesmaki, Teen Vogue, "Why Using the “Teens Don’t Read” Excuse to Kill MTV News Is Misguided," 29 June 2017
He was charged in September 2014 with assault, failure to obey a lawful police order and obstructing and hindering police, according to online court records.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Aberdeen man charged in last Friday's bank robbery," 29 June 2017
Snyder received an additional bribery indictment for allegedly accepting $13,000 in connection with a board of works contract, and allegedly obstructing Internal Revenue Service laws.

— craig lyons, Post-Tribune, "Portage mayor's bribery trial pushed again; 'more materials will be forthcoming from the government'," 28 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of obstruct

Latin obstructus, past participle of obstruere, from ob- in the way + struere to build, heap up — more at ob-, strew

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1590

See Words from the same year

obstruct Synonyms

Synonyms

clog, cramp, embarrass, encumber, fetter, handcuff, handicap, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, hamper, shackle, short-circuit, stymie, tie up, trammel

Antonyms

aid, assist, facilitate, help

Related Words

balk, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain; bind, chain, halter, leash, tether, tie; arrest, brake, delay, retain, retard; barricade, block, blockade, roadblock; bog (down), mire; choke, smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate; baffle, foil, frustrate, stump, thwart; derail, disrupt, sabotage; muzzle, repress, suppress; confine, hedge (in), hem (in)

Near Antonyms

clear, make way, open, unclog, unplug, unstop; free, liberate, release, untie; loosen, smooth; encourage, further, promote

Synonym Discussion of obstruct

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

OBSTRUCT Defined for English Language Learners

obstruct

play

verb

Definition of obstruct for English Language Learners

: to block (something, such as a pipe or street) so that things cannot move through easily
: to slow or block the movement, progress, or action of (something or someone)
: to be in front of (something) : to make (something) difficult to see

OBSTRUCT Defined for Kids

obstruct

play

verb ob·struct \ əb-ˈstrəkt \

Definition of obstruct for Students

obstructed; obstructing

1 :to block or make passage through difficult

A fallen tree is obstructing the road.

2 :to be or come in the way of :hinder

She was uncooperative and obstructed the investigation.

3 :to make (something) difficult to see The new building obstructs their view of the ocean.

Word Root of obstruct

The Latin word struere, meaning “to build,” and its form structus give us the root struct. Words from the Latin struere have something to do with building. A structure is something that was built, such as a house. To construct is to build by combining parts together. To obstruct is to build an obstacle that blocks a passage or path. Destruction is the process of taking apart something that was built.

Medical Dictionary

obstruct

play

transitive verb ob·struct \ əb-ˈstrəkt, äb- \

medical Definition of obstruct

:to block or close up by an obstacle

veins obstructed by clots

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See words that rhyme with obstruct Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for obstruct Spanish Central: Translation of obstruct Nglish: Translation of obstruct for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of obstruct for Arabic speakers

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Examples of obstruct in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of obstruct

obstruct Synonyms

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OBSTRUCT Defined for English Language Learners

obstruct

Definition of obstruct for English Language Learners

OBSTRUCT Defined for Kids

obstruct

Definition of obstruct for Students

Word Root of obstruct

Medical Dictionary

obstruct

medical Definition of obstruct

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