1
as in impeding
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blocking
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obstructing
Also, the amount of sunlight that reaches an area can change dramatically over the growing season, so re-check every week or so to make sure nothing is obstructing access to sunlight.
—
Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026
Indeed, some emergency routes have huge mountains of snowy ice chunks obstructing more than one lane of the road because the snowplows could not move the snow to the side of the road due to all of the bike lane obstacles .
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2026
Last month, a federal appeals court suspended a decision that prohibited federal officers from using tear gas or pepper spray against peaceful protesters in Minnesota who aren't obstructing law enforcement.
—CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
The kangaroo was reportedly obstructing highway traffic in Nelson County, Virginia.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
All three pleaded guilty to obstructing police.
—Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Feb. 2026
Former councilman Mitchell Englander went to prison for obstructing an FBI investigation into his acceptance of $10,000 in cash in a casino bathroom, plus $1,000 in gambling chips, $34,000 in bottle service, an expensive dinner and at least one female escort.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 1 Feb. 2026
The Justice Department felt otherwise, accusing him of federal civil rights crimes for obstructing access to a house of worship.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 30 Jan. 2026
City Councilmember Mitchell Englander resigned his post and was later imprisoned in 2021, convicted of obstructing an FBI investigation into his acceptance of lavish gifts in Las Vegas from a businessman who sought favors from him.
—Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026
Indeed, some emergency routes have huge mountains of snowy ice chunks obstructing more than one lane of the road because the snowplows could not move the snow to the side of the road due to all of the bike lane obstacles .
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2026
Last month, a federal appeals court suspended a decision that prohibited federal officers from using tear gas or pepper spray against peaceful protesters in Minnesota who aren't obstructing law enforcement.
—CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
The kangaroo was reportedly obstructing highway traffic in Nelson County, Virginia.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
All three pleaded guilty to obstructing police.
—Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Feb. 2026
Former councilman Mitchell Englander went to prison for obstructing an FBI investigation into his acceptance of $10,000 in cash in a casino bathroom, plus $1,000 in gambling chips, $34,000 in bottle service, an expensive dinner and at least one female escort.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 1 Feb. 2026
The Justice Department felt otherwise, accusing him of federal civil rights crimes for obstructing access to a house of worship.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 30 Jan. 2026
City Councilmember Mitchell Englander resigned his post and was later imprisoned in 2021, convicted of obstructing an FBI investigation into his acceptance of lavish gifts in Las Vegas from a businessman who sought favors from him.
—Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstructing
Verb
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Homan says in the past month, 158 people have been arrested for impeding or assaulting federal officers, with 85 cases already accepted for prosecution.—
Ashley Grams,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
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Federal prosecutors secured an indictment against Laryen Torres-Carmona in September, charging the 26-year-old with two counts of assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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An officer may direct you out of the Express Lanes, too, into the general lanes if there is a collision blocking traffic.—
Jim Radcliffe,
Oc Register,
6 Feb. 2026
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Thuney himself was credited with zero sacks allowed in 643 regular-season pass-blocking snaps, the most by any player without a sack allowed, according to Next Gen Stats.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The wintry blast, after hampering malls and stores Sunday, is making travel challenging Monday with roads still presenting treacherous conditions, coated by a mixture of frozen precipitation.—
Brian Womack,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Jan. 2026
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Elon Musk warned the biggest issue hampering AI advancement in the United States is a problem Chinese competitors don’t have.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The instigators were allowed to go beyond peaceful protests to hindering law enforcement from doing their job which escalated with the result of two people tragically losing their lives.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
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Anyone raising these concerns last season, when Arsenal finished in a distant second place, would be politely informed that the only curb on their creativity was the injuries that were hindering Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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An unwritten rule of the NBA, it is generally viewed as a sign of respect to run out the clock rather than risk embarrassing an opponent.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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Recently, Ryan spoke about the Beckham situation, the process of writing material as a mother without embarrassing her kids and her new goal of returning to the career trajectory of her pre-pregnant self in the near future.—
Deputy Entertainment,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obstructing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstructing. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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