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
With few nearby cities and little on-property lighting, there's not a lot of light pollution obstructing your view of the stars from this International Dark Sky Park.
—
Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
The video begins with Ross in front of the vehicle driven by Good, who had stopped her burgundy SUV perpendicular to the street, obstructing the flow of traffic.
—Holmes Lybrand, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Barry Lewis, 62, was charged Wednesday with leaving the scene of an accident causing death and obstructing justice.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Additionally, the agency said Yusuf was arrested in 2016 for first-degree assault and has an active warrant from 2024 for obstructing police.
—Rachel Wolf , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The man was booked at the Ada County Jail and has listed as charges six counts of felony battery on law enforcement, three counts of felony assault on law enforcement and one count of misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2026
Michael Alan Harris, 42, of Detroit, was arraigned Tuesday in 36th District Court of Detroit on charges of first-degree murder, felony firearm and resisting and obstructing a police officer, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
There was a large metal bowl at the kitchen’s handwashing sink, obstructing its use.
—Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan is facing federal charges for allegedly obstructing agents trying to arrest an undocumented immigrant.
—John Diedrich, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
The video begins with Ross in front of the vehicle driven by Good, who had stopped her burgundy SUV perpendicular to the street, obstructing the flow of traffic.
—Holmes Lybrand, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Barry Lewis, 62, was charged Wednesday with leaving the scene of an accident causing death and obstructing justice.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Additionally, the agency said Yusuf was arrested in 2016 for first-degree assault and has an active warrant from 2024 for obstructing police.
—Rachel Wolf , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The man was booked at the Ada County Jail and has listed as charges six counts of felony battery on law enforcement, three counts of felony assault on law enforcement and one count of misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2026
Michael Alan Harris, 42, of Detroit, was arraigned Tuesday in 36th District Court of Detroit on charges of first-degree murder, felony firearm and resisting and obstructing a police officer, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
There was a large metal bowl at the kitchen’s handwashing sink, obstructing its use.
—Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan is facing federal charges for allegedly obstructing agents trying to arrest an undocumented immigrant.
—John Diedrich, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstructing
Verb
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For a more permanent setup, mounting it on the ceiling keeps the projector out of the way and minimizes the risk of people, pets, or objects impeding the projection.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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Agitators directing traffic and impeding law enforcement activity in Minnesota are drawing sharp criticism from a former police official, who warns the scenes signal a dangerous normalization of obstruction that threatens public safety and the rule of law.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In the 47-second video, the agent can be seen walking around Good’s maroon Honda Pilot, which is in the middle of the street blocking traffic.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
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The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension accuses the FBI of blocking it from accessing evidence in the investigation.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This left the country without a regular budget for next year and is hampering plans for long-overdue structural reforms and decisions on use of EU support funds.—
Veselin Toshkov,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2025
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Decades-old grids in the US are hampering new energy rollouts, and Spain’s huge blackout in April was blamed on an aged system unable to cope with power swings.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Minnesota officials, however, have reported that the federal government is blocking state authorities from the FBI probe and hindering their ability to carry out their own independent investigation by preventing them from accessing evidence.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
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Despite his objections to the process, Cotton said he was concerned with the long-term viability of the city’s primary water source and regulations hindering residential development.—
Shelley Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some mushroom bills backfired when their true impacts became known, embarrassing legislators who voted for them, and forcing them to backtrack.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
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The report reiterated concerns about seven situations, two of which have been on the list since 2007, including the bureaucracy’s chronic inability to successfully employ information technology — embarrassing for a state that is the global center for digital tools.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obstructing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstructing. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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