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
For more than 48 hours, captain Lillian Zulu had been trying to keep her squad's spirits high despite mounting obstacles.
—
Ryan Lenora Brown, NPR, 14 June 2026
One of Whaley’s biggest obstacles was learning how to use a computer to complete his schoolwork.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
The buildings that remain are not obstacles to downtown’s future.
—Sarah M. Boye, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
Autonomy in this case involves being able to reach destinations by using camera images to navigate around obstacles such as craters and pits without the involvement of mission control.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 June 2026
Despite the obstacles, anticipation has been building across the capital.
—Reuters, NBC news, 13 June 2026
This allows the machine to identify obstacles, plan routes, and navigate without constant human control.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
But some market participants have raised red flags about investing in SpaceX into the IPO, citing concerns over valuation and potential growth obstacles for the Starlink business.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 12 June 2026
Despite these obstacles, single women are determined to achieve their goal of homeownership and continue to be a driving force in the market.
—Kathy Collins, Fortune, 6 June 2026
Ryan Lenora Brown, NPR, 14 June 2026
One of Whaley’s biggest obstacles was learning how to use a computer to complete his schoolwork.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
The buildings that remain are not obstacles to downtown’s future.
—Sarah M. Boye, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
Autonomy in this case involves being able to reach destinations by using camera images to navigate around obstacles such as craters and pits without the involvement of mission control.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 June 2026
Despite the obstacles, anticipation has been building across the capital.
—Reuters, NBC news, 13 June 2026
This allows the machine to identify obstacles, plan routes, and navigate without constant human control.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
But some market participants have raised red flags about investing in SpaceX into the IPO, citing concerns over valuation and potential growth obstacles for the Starlink business.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 12 June 2026
Despite these obstacles, single women are determined to achieve their goal of homeownership and continue to be a driving force in the market.
—Kathy Collins, Fortune, 6 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstacles
Noun
-
Sure, there would be a number of hurdles wrapped up in the process, which would include medical provisions based upon Sorsby's 'mental health disorder' of addiction that his attorneys presented in court as an argument against the NCAA.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
-
Local governments were handed extraordinary funding and broad flexibility to bypass traditional bureaucratic hurdles in the name of speed and compassion.—
Michele Steeb,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
To have the best chance of viewing the planetary alignment, find a spot free of light pollution and a view of the horizon without obstructions like trees or tall buildings.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
-
Not just crashes, but obstructions, emergency scene conflicts, unexpected stops in travel lanes and response-time performance.—
David Roberts,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The British Government is desperate to make progress in tearing down trade barriers.—
Anand Menon,
Time,
13 June 2026
-
While most Americans now live in states with some form of legal cannabis access, federal law continues to create significant barriers.—
Peter Su,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
The order to whitewash America’s historic sites of anything less than rosy about the nation’s past has led to some predictable embarrassments.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
The professional embarrassments even take place at the level of state supreme courts.—
Martin Kaste,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obstacles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstacles. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
