as in obstacles
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 impediments
Dasgupta notes that regular physical activity improves sleep quality by promoting deeper sleep stages, while limiting late-day naps helps prevent impediments to nighttime rest.
—
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Assemblyman David Alvarez, D-Chula Vista, has introduced Assembly Bill 35, with the goal of streamlining the state’s myriad regulatory impediments to the projects funded by the proposition, CalMatters reported.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Also consider other impediments such as tariffs and customs duties; where the parts of your product are manufactured; product and component licensing; and use of open-source technology.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Jan. 2026
Wiener said his bill would rectify those impediments.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
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
Burns typically happen during the week and not on holidays, to prevent impediments to residents’ lives.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 5 Nov. 2025
But whereas many abundance advocates typically talk about removing government impediments to growth, such as zoning restrictions, Rodrik focusses on government interventions.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, the courts have emerged as one of the main impediments to Trump administration policy.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Assemblyman David Alvarez, D-Chula Vista, has introduced Assembly Bill 35, with the goal of streamlining the state’s myriad regulatory impediments to the projects funded by the proposition, CalMatters reported.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Also consider other impediments such as tariffs and customs duties; where the parts of your product are manufactured; product and component licensing; and use of open-source technology.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Jan. 2026
Wiener said his bill would rectify those impediments.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
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
Burns typically happen during the week and not on holidays, to prevent impediments to residents’ lives.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 5 Nov. 2025
But whereas many abundance advocates typically talk about removing government impediments to growth, such as zoning restrictions, Rodrik focusses on government interventions.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, the courts have emerged as one of the main impediments to Trump administration policy.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impediments
Noun
-
At full height, the ship has an air draft of about 328 feet, but the tilting system enables the masts to lower when necessary, allowing the vessel to pass beneath bridges or other obstacles along its route, The Maritime Executive writes.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
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The war is constraining oil exports and prompting major producers like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq to scale back output as shipments face growing obstacles.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Easing installation hurdles While OpenClaw has surged in popularity recently, experts have previously pointed out limitations to the AI agent's mass adoption, including a complex installation process that's challenging for nontechnical users.—
Evelyn Cheng,Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
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Iran’s attempts to scale up desalination projects along its southern coast face significant hurdles, including international sanctions, high energy costs, and infrastructure bottlenecks.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Currently, the Port Authority pays to have obstructions removed.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
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Altogether, there were some 252 obstructions around Mexico.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Ledezma, a senior research analyst at the CSU Chancellor’s Office and doctoral candidate at UC Irvine, spoke during her interview about the need to remove barriers for students in the region.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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Advances in fault-tolerant quantum hardware, improved state-preparation methods, and more efficient algorithms could eventually overcome some of the barriers identified.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impediments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impediments. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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