as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
tough going for the burros on the canyon trail, even without the added impediment of heavy loads
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Recent Examples of impediment
There was no foreseeable impediment to our messy but functional republic.
—
Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
To humanity’s great thinkers and leaders, gambling was an impediment to an ethical life (Aristotle), an invention of the devil (Saint Augustine), and a tax on the ignorant (Warren Buffett).
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Wind shear, which occurs when winds blow at different speeds and/or directions with height, acts as an impediment to fledgling tropical storms and hurricanes.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
By sanctioning an unlawful deal, the government has created a legal impediment to petitioners' financial recovery.
—Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impediment
Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
To humanity’s great thinkers and leaders, gambling was an impediment to an ethical life (Aristotle), an invention of the devil (Saint Augustine), and a tax on the ignorant (Warren Buffett).
—Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Wind shear, which occurs when winds blow at different speeds and/or directions with height, acts as an impediment to fledgling tropical storms and hurricanes.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
By sanctioning an unlawful deal, the government has created a legal impediment to petitioners' financial recovery.
—Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impediment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impediment
Noun
-
In the end, the deepest release isn’t about getting a medical tag, but rather about understanding why those unrelenting obstacles continued to exist.—
Lucy Jones
April 11,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Because Anna and Matteo were never actually together, her clear attraction with Michael doesn’t face any meaningful obstacles, aside from some obligatory (and weakly justified) initial sniping between the two leads.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The ceasefire brokered by Pakistan still faces hurdles in the talks beginning Saturday, as Israel and Hezbollah militants have been trading fire along the border of southern Lebanon and Iran has set conditions before negotiations can begin.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Then, for Artemis IV, there are even greater hurdles.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
According to Harvard Health, rarer but more serious side effects can include inflammation of the pancreas, called pancreatitis; gastroparesis, or the slowing or stopping of movement of food through the stomach; bowel obstruction or blockage; and gallstone attacks or bile duct blockages.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
-
In March 2024, authorities arrested 32-year-old Lashawn Washington and charged her with first-degree felony murder, kidnapping and obstruction of justice.—
Veronica Fulton,
NBC news,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The nonprofit Bike New York offers free instruction and groups everyone by age to avoid embarrassment.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
16 Apr. 2026
-
When appealing to a congressional answering machine fails, perhaps public embarrassment is the most effective lever to pull.—
Paula Mejía,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
By eliminating practical barriers that frequently exist between suspicion and diagnosis, the online model satisfies that need.—
Malana VanTyler,
Sacbee.com,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Those barriers to access are part of what inspired Henderson to launch Pilates in the Park, a free outdoor session in Grant Park that’s open to anyone.—
Olivia Wakim,
AJC.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impediment. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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