obstruct

verb

ob·​struct əb-ˈstrəkt 

äb-

obstructed; obstructing; obstructs

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.

obstructive

əb-ˈstrək-tiv 

äb-

adjective or noun

obstructiveness noun

obstructor

əb-ˈstrək-tər 

äb-

noun

Synonyms

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

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

The former officers pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice, according to court records. —Emma Tucker, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024

The Mattachine Society, founded in 1950, saw the APA’s categorization of homosexuality as a disease as the linchpin obstructing gay liberation. —Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 8 Apr. 2024

Metro Phoenix residents will be able to see a partial eclipse for about 2.5 hours, with only 64% of the sun being obstructed by the moon. —Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024

As early as 763 BCE, ancient Assyrians were charting the process by which the path of the moon temporarily obstructs the sun, and astronomers have continued to do so for thousands of years since. —Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024

According to a letter sent by the county’s public works department, SFGate reported, at least six Montecito residents were ordered to remove boulders and plants obstructing public parking areas used by hikers on East Mountain Drive and Riven Rock Road. —Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

The Mueller report raised questions about whether Trump had obstructed the inquiry into the ties between the former president’s 2016 campaign and Russia. —Alan Feuer, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024

Later, wooden barriers and protective plastic appeared, obstructing the view. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024

In its lawsuit against SB4, the Biden administration has argued the state measure jeopardizes diplomatic relations with Mexico, ignores U.S. asylum law and obstructs immigration enforcement, a longstanding federal responsibility. —Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

obstruct

verb

ob·​struct əb-ˈstrəkt 

äb-

1

: to close up by an obstacle

a fallen tree obstructed the roadway

2

: to be or get in the way of : hinder

lying to the police obstructs justice

Medical Definition

obstruct

transitive verb

ob·​struct əb-ˈstrəkt, äb- 

: to block or close up by an obstacle

veins obstructed by clots