hurdle 1 of 2

noun

ˈhər-dᵊl How to pronounce hurdle (audio)
Definition of hurdlenext
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult the many hurdles he had to overcome on the road to success

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hurdle

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to leap

Related Words
2
as in to overcome

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hurdle
Noun
Pakistan faces additional hurdles because its safety program is still developing. — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 Now, the team must figure out how to clear that massive hurdle that’s based in Los Angeles. — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
For a teen star like King, the chasm that Malone once had to hurdle between the Petersburg High School varsity team and professional basketball has been replaced by something more like a tricky but continuous series of conveyor belts. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026 There hasn’t been much KP hasn’t been able to hurdle, and that showed in double-overtime wins over Canton in the second round and Pembroke in the quarterfinals, before dethroning defending state champion Medfield in the semifinals. — Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 14 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hurdle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurdle
  1. obstacle
  2. leap
  3. overcome
  4. barrier
  5. jump
  6. surmount
  7. skip
  8. best
Noun
  • There’s outward social and internalized pressure on the Dashwood sisters to marry, and do it quickly, but per any Austen tale, the path is blotchy and blocked by obstacles and second-guessing.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
  • During robot operation, LiDAR supplies information about the surrounding environment, helping the framework account for obstacles and available clearance.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of obstacle
Verb
  • As thousands of Kentucky fans leaped over the walls of the stadium and sprinted onto the turf, Stein's father got in on the fun as well, but in a different fashion.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
  • After Mesa's homer gave the Rays a 4-2 lead, Anthony Volpe appeared to hit a two-run shot against Griffin Jax with two outs in the bottom half as a fan reached over the left-field wall and caught the ball over the glove of a leaping Mesa.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of leap
Verb
  • These sessions have helped Ellis develop a better understanding of the challenges others have overcome.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The three-time AL MVP played just seven games after May 31 because of a fractured rib and the leg injury, an absence the team couldn't overcome.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of overcome
Noun
  • Junna is eager to become a mother, although several legal barriers prevent her from accessing sperm donations or fertility treatment.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • European textile recycling alliance ReHubs has appointed Béatrice Moureaux chief executive officer as the organization works to address the investment and demand barriers holding back textile-to-textile recycling capacity in Europe.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of barrier
Verb
  • Barkley delivered a nasty spin move that left him slightly sideways, forcing him to jump and then leapfrog backward.
    — Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Shares of Palantir have jumped nearly 47% over the past three months.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of jump
Verb
  • To surmount the issue, Apple routed a flexible graphite pipe through the hinge itself to transfer heat between the two halves, thereby increasing the surface area available for heat dissipation.
    — Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Several diplomatic hurdles will need to be surmounted before any recovery effort can take its first steps.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of surmount
Verb
  • Ella Langley has been forced to skip the Tulsa, Oklahoma stop on her Dandelion Tour for the safety of herself and fans.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The pregame commemoration of that anniversary was well done, even if more fans than usual skipped the game that followed.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of skip
Verb
  • Mansfield Summit beat Cedar Hill 41-19, while Burleson Centennial bested Mansfield Legacy 35-7.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2026
  • They were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays – who also bested them in the division despite a bottom-three payroll compared to New York’s third-highest in baseball – in the American League Division Series.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of best

Browse Nearby Words

hunt (through)
hurdle
hurdled
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Cite this Entry

“Hurdle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurdle. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hurdle

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