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
-
Rams boss Les Snead and Chiefs leadership tandem Andy Reid and Brett Veach don’t seem hindered by obstacles either, despite later draft slots and paying future Hall of Fame quarterbacks.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The obstacles along the way fueled Jones’ drive to succeed.—
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Collins announced on Monday that after two years of legal hurdles and negotiations, the project to take over and transform InfoWars is finally getting off the ground.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Developers face a gauntlet of zoning rules, permitting delays, high construction costs, expensive property taxes and local political hurdles, all of which slow or shrink projects before they ever get built.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
21 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
-
Aid agencies say Israeli security restrictions have tied their hands, creating difficult security barriers that have limited the influx of aid.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Other good view barriers for privacy might include the edible olive, pineapple guava, Simpson stopper, Walter’s viburnum, podocarpus and clumping bamboo.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hindrances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hindrances. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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