as in fences
a physical object that blocks the way
there was a big barrier plastered with signs saying "Keep Out" around the trash compactor
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Recent Examples of barriers
At this scale, electrons start tunneling through barriers meant to contain them, causing current leakage even when devices are off.
—
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
Blake Snell is walking along one of the barriers giving every nearby fan — every one — a fist bump.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
The economic barriers are as daunting as the cultural ones.
—Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Senate Majority Leader Angelique Ashby, D-Sacramento, recently passed Senate Bill 516, which will lift some of the barriers to establishing a certain type of special taxing district in the city and in Sacramento County.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Several people offered solutions Thursday to the barriers the district has cited in implementing the curriculum.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Banning access to all gender-affirming care fails to take into consideration that every health decision entails risks and that barriers to accessing care lead to additional dangers, rather than eliminating them.
—Amy Caruso Brown, STAT, 30 Jan. 2026
As a legal office on wheels, the clinic’s goal is to provide immigration legal services to those facing barriers with transportation, work schedules, child care or fear of violence by federal immigration agents.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada and China reached a preliminary deal to remove trade barriers and lower tariffs.
—Terri Cullen, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2026
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
Blake Snell is walking along one of the barriers giving every nearby fan — every one — a fist bump.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
The economic barriers are as daunting as the cultural ones.
—Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Senate Majority Leader Angelique Ashby, D-Sacramento, recently passed Senate Bill 516, which will lift some of the barriers to establishing a certain type of special taxing district in the city and in Sacramento County.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Several people offered solutions Thursday to the barriers the district has cited in implementing the curriculum.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Banning access to all gender-affirming care fails to take into consideration that every health decision entails risks and that barriers to accessing care lead to additional dangers, rather than eliminating them.
—Amy Caruso Brown, STAT, 30 Jan. 2026
As a legal office on wheels, the clinic’s goal is to provide immigration legal services to those facing barriers with transportation, work schedules, child care or fear of violence by federal immigration agents.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada and China reached a preliminary deal to remove trade barriers and lower tariffs.
—Terri Cullen, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barriers
Noun
-
According to information about the rat control program, signs of rats in a residential yard could include burrows, droppings or dirt mounds near fences or garages.—
Jessi Virtusio,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The Buckeyes added quality experience without swinging for the fences while letting younger, inexperienced homegrown recruits depart (only one starter left via the portal).—
Sam Khan Jr,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Tropical greenery and flora enshroud each walkway, and walls are adorned in bougainvillea arches.—
Molly Barstein,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
-
In 2022, Mimosa Echard won the Prix Marcel Duchamp and exhibited the installation Escape more at the Centre Pompidou in Paris—a display consisting of glass walls, streams of water and urine, pollen, ginkgo tree eggs, newsprint, films, and assorted tchotchkes, among other items.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But the obstacles are overwhelming.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Why cruise lines conduct safety drills Safety drills, also called muster drills, are not the brainchild of a sadistic cruise ship officer, trying to place obstacles between cruise guests and their sunbathing and cocktails.—
Erica Silverstein,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barriers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barriers. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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