as in obstacles
something that makes movement or progress difficult
made a survey of all the hindrances to wheelchair access, such as curbs and stairs
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Recent Examples of hindrances
The main hindrances then became the remoteness of the Moreton Bay district, the lack of understanding of the region in Sydney, and the consequent small number of settlers—no more than 2,000 in the mid-1840s.
—
Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
Extending assistance to children braving learning hindrances, such as ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), dyslexia, and executive dysfunction, the program aims to offer support to the aspiring young scholars in need.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
And, of course, plenty of hindrances.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025
The journey, first to Paris and then through Switzerland and Milan and onwards to Venice, was for the most part pleasant, being blessedly free of many of the wearisome and often infuriating hindrances and misdirections that rail travel usually entails.
—Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Regulations and reporting are just some of the hindrances holding Europe back.
—Frederik Riskær Pedersen, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
Extending assistance to children braving learning hindrances, such as ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), dyslexia, and executive dysfunction, the program aims to offer support to the aspiring young scholars in need.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
And, of course, plenty of hindrances.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025
The journey, first to Paris and then through Switzerland and Milan and onwards to Venice, was for the most part pleasant, being blessedly free of many of the wearisome and often infuriating hindrances and misdirections that rail travel usually entails.
—Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Regulations and reporting are just some of the hindrances holding Europe back.
—Frederik Riskær Pedersen, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hindrances
Noun
-
The obstacles to a clean reauthorization appear most daunting in the House, where a number of Democrats and Republicans are insisting on changes, including one that would require a warrant before using the tool.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Those are usually the two biggest obstacles.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The sticking points ahead of a US-Iran deal less resemble insurmountable hurdles, and more smaller details of pride and positioning.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Outside of its finances, Snap has grappled with other hurdles.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But the Scot hooked his second shot from a wet fairway on the 609-yard closing hole — a par 5 that yielded only 10 birdies in the final round — and even after getting relief from temporary immovable obstructions, MacIntyre could only hit wedge to 30 feet.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
But there are wild cards, including potential obstructions from Orion’s solar arrays or the body of the spacecraft and uncertainty about how well the vehicle can maintain a consistent orientation.—
Adam Bluestein,
Scientific American,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Address a gopher threat proactively through weed control and laying down barriers.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Virtual psychology removes outdated barriers by merging medical scrutiny with convenience, helping individuals move from uncertainty toward greater clarity.—
Lucy Jones
April 11,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hindrances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hindrances. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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