as in hurdle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
stumbling on all the obstacles along the path
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obstacle
Popular culture has long elevated certain women by portraying others as rivals, obstacles or villains.
—
Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
This season Sinatra wakes from her coma and faces a new obstacle in Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom).
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
His willingness to seek support, stay engaged and persevere through obstacles demonstrates maturity well beyond his years.
—Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2026
That kind of chaos could easily spill over Iran’s borders, and not just by land; the Persian Gulf is narrow, and would not pose much of an obstacle to terrorists or insurgents who cross it in speedboats.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obstacle
Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
This season Sinatra wakes from her coma and faces a new obstacle in Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom).
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
His willingness to seek support, stay engaged and persevere through obstacles demonstrates maturity well beyond his years.
—Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2026
That kind of chaos could easily spill over Iran’s borders, and not just by land; the Persian Gulf is narrow, and would not pose much of an obstacle to terrorists or insurgents who cross it in speedboats.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obstacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstacle
Noun
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Years of inflation, high mortgage rates and skyrocketing home prices have made buying a home a major hurdle for many Americans.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
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Barrios said the money for vehicle maintenance could help pay to replace the city’s Chollas Operation Yard, which can’t be rebuilt or expanded because of environmental hurdles.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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His charges were reduced to misdemeanor obstruction of government administration and harassment, the outlet said.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
5 Mar. 2026
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Valmir Krasniqi, 35, the manager at Positano, a Bay Ridge restaurant prosecutors say has ties to organized crime figures, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in Brooklyn Federal Court Wednesday, and could face up to six years behind bars based on sentencing guidelines.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Holding said his face was burning with embarrassment.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2026
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Online care lowers barriers, reduces embarrassment and helps people who might otherwise stay silent for years.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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From her perspective, expanding connectivity across South Carolina has been part of a broader effort to reduce barriers for communities historically left out of economic and educational participation.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
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The semi-autonomous barrier is intended to prevent vehicles from fleeing at high speeds from the checkpoint, US Customs and Border Protection has said.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obstacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstacle. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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