as in blocked
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1
as in impeded
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in jammed
to prevent passage through by filling with something
at the moment the city's only tunnel between downtown and the airport is obstructed by an overturned tanker truck
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obstructed
Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
Depending on your vantage point, the band was often semi-obstructed or blocked from view.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
Gone were the giant inflated Brown statues that appeared during recent Breezy Bowl shows (and at his Tycoon Music Festival appearance here in April), which prompted concertgoer complaints about obstructed views.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Adam Thompson, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
After an investigation that lasted months, fuelled by eight whistle-blowers on his own staff, the legislators concluded that Paxton had taken bribes from a real-estate developer, improperly fired aides who reported his conduct, and obstructed justice.
—Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
These agents monitored and sometimes obstructed care to protesters, intimidated staff, seized protesters and took away the dead in body bags.
—Sarah El Deeb, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Parts of the stage were obstructed in those far corner seats, but sightlines were otherwise excellent, and a sense of intimacy in proximity to the stage was still palpable in the nosebleeds.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 25 Feb. 2026
The exhaust pipe was obstructed by snow, police said, calling his death accidental.
—Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Mild-mannered ex-comptroller Brad Lander is going to court to try to shed some light on what actually goes on at 26 Federal Plaza (which his presence allegedly obstructed).
—Brendan O'Connor, Curbed, 24 Feb. 2026
Part of me thinks the player whose shooting opportunity was obstructed should be the one granted to shoot one-on-one — or at least, someone on the ice for the infraction.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The officers, masked and kitted out with military-grade armor and rifles, have faced down peaceful protesters and people who have threatened, obstructed or attacked them, with methods that are less deadly than guns but still inflict grievous injuries.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
StubHub should have disclosed the obstructed view upfront.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
Depending on your vantage point, the band was often semi-obstructed or blocked from view.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
Gone were the giant inflated Brown statues that appeared during recent Breezy Bowl shows (and at his Tycoon Music Festival appearance here in April), which prompted concertgoer complaints about obstructed views.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Verb
The owner, listed on the claim as Genesis GSA Strategic One LLC, county officials interfered with and obstructed the federal government's authority to enforce immigration law and open detention sites.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
After an investigation that lasted months, fuelled by eight whistle-blowers on his own staff, the legislators concluded that Paxton had taken bribes from a real-estate developer, improperly fired aides who reported his conduct, and obstructed justice.
—Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
These agents monitored and sometimes obstructed care to protesters, intimidated staff, seized protesters and took away the dead in body bags.
—Sarah El Deeb, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Parts of the stage were obstructed in those far corner seats, but sightlines were otherwise excellent, and a sense of intimacy in proximity to the stage was still palpable in the nosebleeds.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 25 Feb. 2026
The exhaust pipe was obstructed by snow, police said, calling his death accidental.
—Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Mild-mannered ex-comptroller Brad Lander is going to court to try to shed some light on what actually goes on at 26 Federal Plaza (which his presence allegedly obstructed).
—Brendan O'Connor, Curbed, 24 Feb. 2026
Part of me thinks the player whose shooting opportunity was obstructed should be the one granted to shoot one-on-one — or at least, someone on the ice for the infraction.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The officers, masked and kitted out with military-grade armor and rifles, have faced down peaceful protesters and people who have threatened, obstructed or attacked them, with methods that are less deadly than guns but still inflict grievous injuries.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstructed
Verb
-
But the totality of the circumstances greatly impeded my ability to write Ballot.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The plaintiffs include six New York City government workers who allege that EmblemHealth’s ghost network has significantly impeded their access to mental health care.—
Kate Snow,
NBC news,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When a total lockdown was imposed, a guard blocked the teen from leaving the crowded room to join her mother and sister in the bathroom.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
-
When a total lockdown was imposed, a guard blocked the teen from leaving the crowded room to join her mother and sister in the bathroom.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The journey is hampered by lack of money and other misfortunes, and it’s eventually interrupted by a gunshot, announcing the cantankerous presence of Tiga.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
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It has also been hampered by its own investors failing to back it, Semafor’s technology editor reported.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Gulf states’ strategy on Iran — focused on de-escalation and containing tensions — has hindered their ability to influence Tehran and shape the new security environment, Bader Al-Saif, assistant professor of history at Kuwait University, and Chatham House’s Sanam Vakil write for War on the Rocks.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
28 Feb. 2026
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Richard also recalled how Amber’s COVID-19 diagnosis before she was scheduled to perform at the US Nationals in 2019 hindered her Olympics debut.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
One clip appears to show a Waymo vehicle stopped while other vehicles illegally pass a stopped bus.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Jan. 2026
-
That's when a 51-year-old woman driving a Tesla south on Highway 85 struck the Focus, causing both cars to spin and crash into a stopped semi-truck.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The team embarrassed Canada, 5-0, in the preliminary round, and swept the North American neighbor in four straight Olympic tune-ups.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The case has deeply embarrassed the royal family, especially his mother, who suffers from an incurable lung illness and who is torn between her role as mother and future queen.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obstructed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstructed. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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