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
Mac Forehand, who grew up in Fairfield before moving to Vermont, will compete on the Freeski team in Slopestyle (in which athletes ski down a course with obstacles and jumps) and Big Air (one jump with flips, spins and grabs) while Olivia Giaccio, who grew up in Redding, will compete in moguls.
—
Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2026
Like any good quest, there were obstacles to overcome, and in this case, Chinese visas to procure.
—Jake Emen, Robb Report, 22 Jan. 2026
Players are given win conditions that define their motives, and the game masters are given the ability to throw any obstacle in their way.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
Fear, Dumas argues, is not an obstacle to entrepreneurship but a condition of it.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obstacle
Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2026
Like any good quest, there were obstacles to overcome, and in this case, Chinese visas to procure.
—Jake Emen, Robb Report, 22 Jan. 2026
Players are given win conditions that define their motives, and the game masters are given the ability to throw any obstacle in their way.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
Fear, Dumas argues, is not an obstacle to entrepreneurship but a condition of it.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obstacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstacle
Noun
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Data security presents another hurdle.—
Sahar Hashmi,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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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
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Amanda Milsap, 45, was arrested on charges of bribery and obstruction of justice.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
“Obstacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstacle. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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