Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

obstruct

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of obstruct

1 to create difficulty for the work or activity of

  • this would go much faster if you would stop obstructing me with your constant interruptions
Synonyms of obstruct

clog, cramp, embarrass, encumber, fetter, hamper, handcuff, handicap, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, shackle, short-circuit, stymie, tie up, trammel
Words Related to obstruct

balk, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain

bind, chain, halter, leash, tether, tie

arrest, brake, delay, retain, retard

barricade, block, blockade, roadblock

bog (down), mire

choke, smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate

baffle, foil, frustrate, stump, thwart

derail, disrupt, sabotage

muzzle, repress, suppress

confine, hedge (in), hem (in)
Phrases Synonymous with obstruct

cramp oneʼs style, give a hard time
Near Antonyms of obstruct

clear, make way, open, unclog, unplug, unstop

free, liberate, release, untie

loosen, smooth

encourage, further, promote
Antonyms of obstruct

aid, assist, facilitate, help

2 to prevent passage through by filling with something

  • at the moment the cityʼs only tunnel between downtown and the airport is obstructed by an overturned tanker truck
Synonyms of obstruct

block, choke, clog, clot, congest, dam, gum (up), jam, occlude, plug (up), stop (up), stuff
Words Related to obstruct

bung, cork, spile, stopper, stopple

fill, gridlock, pack

fur, silt

flood, glut, inundate, overwhelm, swamp
Near Antonyms of obstruct

excavate, hollow (out), scoop (out)

empty, lighten
Antonyms of obstruct

clear, free, open (up), unblock, unclog, unplug, unstop

Synonym Discussion of obstruct

hinder, impede, obstruct, block mean to interfere with the activity or progress of. hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress.
    • rain hindered the climb
impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering.
    • tight clothing that impedes movement
obstruct implies interfering with something in motion or in progress by the sometimes intentional placing of obstacles in the way.
    • the view was obstructed by billboards
block implies complete obstruction to passage or progress.
    • a landslide blocked the road

Learn More about obstruct

  1. See words that rhyme with obstruct Dictionary: Definition of obstruct Medical Dictionary: Definition of obstruct Spanish Central: Translation of obstruct Nglish: Translation of obstruct for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of obstruct for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up obstruct? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games