as in hurdles
something that makes movement or progress difficult
stumbling on all the obstacles along the path
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Recent Examples of obstacles
Whereas waterfalls present fish obstacles in rising above their circumstances, five orders and eight families, from South America, Asia, and Australia, have overcome the impossible.
—
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 5 Apr. 2026
At the same time, the physicists don’t see any insurmountable obstacles.
—Quanta Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
By contrast, many of the other names circulating could face steeper obstacles.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2026
Independent businesses are not obstacles to urban progress.
—Steve Weil, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026
One of the obstacles that presents itself is Min Ho’s friend/former crush, Gigi, making an appearance.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
Not everyone wants to travel with a portable steamer or trust notoriously finicky hotel irons to smooth out their clothing, so investing in wrinkle-free materials from the jump is a great way to cut down the obstacles between you and a day out enjoying your vacation.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
After an overly mopey Season 1, letting our series lead actually take pleasure in a life that most people can only dream about is a smart shift, but Tropper also gives Coop two distinct, disparate, and clarifying obstacles.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
But some of the obstacles to growth in Half Moon Bay are self-imposed.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 5 Apr. 2026
At the same time, the physicists don’t see any insurmountable obstacles.
—Quanta Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
By contrast, many of the other names circulating could face steeper obstacles.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2026
Independent businesses are not obstacles to urban progress.
—Steve Weil, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026
One of the obstacles that presents itself is Min Ho’s friend/former crush, Gigi, making an appearance.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
Not everyone wants to travel with a portable steamer or trust notoriously finicky hotel irons to smooth out their clothing, so investing in wrinkle-free materials from the jump is a great way to cut down the obstacles between you and a day out enjoying your vacation.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
After an overly mopey Season 1, letting our series lead actually take pleasure in a life that most people can only dream about is a smart shift, but Tropper also gives Coop two distinct, disparate, and clarifying obstacles.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
But some of the obstacles to growth in Half Moon Bay are self-imposed.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstacles
Noun
-
Each tax and bond issue tracked by The Star was passed by voters, as well as a property tax cap in Platte County, which still faces legal hurdles.—
Chandler Boese,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Realistically, there is no end of hurdles — legal, political, practical — that would have to be surmounted for a partial Texas-New Mexico merger to occur.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But the Scot hooked his second shot from a wet fairway on the 609-yard closing hole — a par 5 that yielded only 10 birdies in the final round — and even after getting relief from temporary immovable obstructions, MacIntyre could only hit wedge to 30 feet.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
But there are wild cards, including potential obstructions from Orion’s solar arrays or the body of the spacecraft and uncertainty about how well the vehicle can maintain a consistent orientation.—
Adam Bluestein,
Scientific American,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Address a gopher threat proactively through weed control and laying down barriers.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Virtual psychology removes outdated barriers by merging medical scrutiny with convenience, helping individuals move from uncertainty toward greater clarity.—
Lucy Jones
April 11,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The professional embarrassments even take place at the level of state supreme courts.—
Martin Kaste,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2026
-
That’s not only because judges are fining more lawyers for their laziness, but because the publicity about these embarrassments has been inescapable.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obstacles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstacles. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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