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
Rather than see that as an impediment, Arndt called it one of the draws.
—
Charlotte Observer, 15 Dec. 2025
So, that's a big that's a big impediment.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Not only does the extant relationship between art and commerce imply no causal relationship between commercial performance and literary quality, but this false implication is itself a pernicious impediment to both the creation and profitable production of great art.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
Human and workers’ rights, environmental protections, child labor laws, and community standards are general impediments to the profit motives inherent in multilateral free trade agreements.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impediment
Charlotte Observer, 15 Dec. 2025
So, that's a big that's a big impediment.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Not only does the extant relationship between art and commerce imply no causal relationship between commercial performance and literary quality, but this false implication is itself a pernicious impediment to both the creation and profitable production of great art.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
Human and workers’ rights, environmental protections, child labor laws, and community standards are general impediments to the profit motives inherent in multilateral free trade agreements.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impediment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impediment
Noun
-
In addition to the giant uncertainty of hemp’s future, there are some serious obstacles for the cannabis industry to get over.—
Will Yakowicz,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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Leaders such as midfielder Andi Sullivan and goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury, who consistently fielded questions about the off-field obstacles, are still key parts of the team’s leadership in 2026.—
Emily Olsen,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Data security presents another hurdle.—
Sahar Hashmi,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Around the same time as the actions aimed at the five states, the administration put up hurdles to Minnesota for even more federal dollars.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The cameraman appears to be another motorist making his or her way over to get around the obstruction.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Amanda Milsap, 45, was arrested on charges of bribery and obstruction of justice.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Panic, self-doubt, and embarrassment set in.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
29 Jan. 2026
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The latter, of course, gives better info, and the former gives fleeting metaphors and nearly faints from embarrassment.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Reframing Negotiation as Collaboration Perhaps the biggest mental barrier is viewing negotiation as conflict.—
Kwame Christian Esq,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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For all the progress in the lab, though, money remains a major barrier.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impediment. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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