roadblock

noun road·block \ ˈrōd-ˌbläk \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Examples: roadblock in a Sentence

1 a : a barricade often with traps or mines for holding up an enemy at a point on a road covered by fire

b : a road barricade set up especially by law enforcement officers

2 : an obstruction in a road

3 : something that blocks progress or prevents accomplishment of an objective

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roadblock

transitive verb

See roadblock defined for English-language learners

See roadblock defined for kids

Examples of roadblock in a Sentence

That's the one roadblock to the plan.
roadblocks on the path to success

Recent Examples of roadblock from the Web

Young men from the San Judas neighborhood near the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua visit the campus to rest after guarding roadblocks in streets surrounding the campus.

— kyra gurney, miamiherald, "Nicaragua university students under attack as they lead political uprising against Ortega," 8 June 2018
At a whopping $600 for both the tool and the mask, the cost is a probs-never-going-to-happen roadblock for any normal, non-famous face looking for a fun way to get glowy.

— maureen choi, Glamour, "Madonna Just Released a Cheaper Version of Her $600 MDNA Magnetic Face Mask," 6 June 2018
Cooper said of Stand Up to Cancer‘s return for its sixth installment of roadblock fundraising across multiple networks aimed at raising funds for cancer research.

— joey nolfi, EW.com, "Stand Up to Cancer," 5 June 2018
Students, farmers, and other protesters have stayed in the streets despite recent bloody confrontations with state forces and set up roadblocks around the country.

— sarah kinosian, Teen Vogue, "Nicaragua's Students Have Spent Months Protesting President Daniel Ortega," 4 June 2018
Because his new team is well-versed in nursing arms back to full strength following procedures to correct thoracic outlet syndrome, Hughes’ particular roadblock the last two years.

— jeff sanders, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Phil Hughes relishing 'new lease on life' with Padres," 29 May 2018
At the same time, however, Trump's unpredictability and lack of an overarching foreign policy has thrown up unexpected roadblocks.

— adam taylor, Washington Post, "Saudis and Emiratis face the pitfalls of courting Trump," 23 May 2018
Harter said this helps prepare them to overcome roadblocks with their projects and how to pivot to a backup plan if necessary.

— emma kate fittes, Indianapolis Star, "This innovative class in Fishers, Noblesville could start showing up in other schools," 21 May 2018
Overcoming this is as simple (and complicated) as realizing that everything worth doing is hard and committing yourself to pushing past the inevitable roadblocks that come up.

— anna pulley, RedEye Chicago, "Ask Anna: Where can I make new friends?," 14 May 2018

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

First Known Use of roadblock

1913

in the meaning defined at sense 1b

See Words from the same year

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ROADBLOCK Defined for English Language Learners

roadblock

noun

: a place where police or military officers stop drivers especially in order to examine vehicles
: something that stops progress

Law Dictionary

roadblock

noun road·block

: a road barricade set up by law enforcement officers especially for the purpose of detecting criminal activity

Learn More about roadblock

See words that rhyme with roadblock Spanish Central: Translation of roadblock Nglish: Translation of roadblock for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of roadblock for Arabic speakers

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First Known Use of roadblock

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