as in hurdles
something that makes movement or progress difficult
stumbling on all the obstacles along the path
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obstacles
Institutions were obstacles to be blamed or bypassed.
—
Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Ladders can help fish circumvent these obstacles, but learning to navigate them can take the animals days.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Joint pain that turns stairs into obstacles.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 6 Jan. 2026
And then some obstacles with Wesley running for office, what that does to his relationship with Lopez.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
Pudu’s approach appears to emphasize efficiency in mixed environments, using wheels wherever possible and reserving legged motion for obstacles such as stairs or steps up to 25 centimeters high.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Jan. 2026
The government increased the number of obstacles to undermine the competitiveness of elections, the ability to run an organized campaign, and this has included not just terrible regulations, but arrests and prohibitions.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
While Venezuela’s oil reserves are the world’s largest, obstacles include high up-front costs for building out infrastructure, limited profit potential amid today’s low oil prices and continuing concerns about political stability.
—Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
When entering new environments, guide them carefully to highlight potential obstacles.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Ladders can help fish circumvent these obstacles, but learning to navigate them can take the animals days.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Joint pain that turns stairs into obstacles.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 6 Jan. 2026
And then some obstacles with Wesley running for office, what that does to his relationship with Lopez.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
Pudu’s approach appears to emphasize efficiency in mixed environments, using wheels wherever possible and reserving legged motion for obstacles such as stairs or steps up to 25 centimeters high.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Jan. 2026
The government increased the number of obstacles to undermine the competitiveness of elections, the ability to run an organized campaign, and this has included not just terrible regulations, but arrests and prohibitions.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
While Venezuela’s oil reserves are the world’s largest, obstacles include high up-front costs for building out infrastructure, limited profit potential amid today’s low oil prices and continuing concerns about political stability.
—Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
When entering new environments, guide them carefully to highlight potential obstacles.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstacles
Noun
-
The 35% analyst upside projection appears optimistic given the structural hurdles.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Financing hurdles In April, the City Council created a special tax district to help pay for the Stitch.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These signs usually indicate several issues like clogs and obstructions or worn out parts.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
11 Dec. 2025
-
Do yourself a favor and take the time to properly inspect the machine, tighten any fasteners, check for wear on the rotor paddles, scrapers, and skid shoes, and ensure that the auger and chute are free of obstructions.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
At this scale, electrons start tunneling through barriers meant to contain them, causing current leakage even when devices are off.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Blake Snell is walking along one of the barriers giving every nearby fan — every one — a fist bump.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Such a link might also provide the quiet word that can avoid more public embarrassments.—
Ian Irving,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Vulnerability is currency on reality television, and after a season of exposing their own struggles and embarrassments, the other women are annoyed that Meredith wants to keep up appearances.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obstacles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstacles. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
