as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
an obstruction in the drain has the water all backed up
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obstruction
Zenada Greer, the fifth defendant in the case, was arrested in Kentucky and is awaiting extradition to Indiana on obstruction and assisting a criminal charges.
—
Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
Check slopes for bare spots, holes and obstructions, like rocks, fences or poles.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Trump officials have been targeting the two men and other Democratic leaders in the state with a criminal investigation and possible obstruction charges.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Flat roofs with parapets (side walls), stepped roofs, saw-tooth roofs, and roofs with chimneys and other obstructions on top can collect snow in an unbalanced manner, the agency said.
—Bailey Allen, The Providence Journal, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obstruction
Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
Check slopes for bare spots, holes and obstructions, like rocks, fences or poles.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Trump officials have been targeting the two men and other Democratic leaders in the state with a criminal investigation and possible obstruction charges.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Flat roofs with parapets (side walls), stepped roofs, saw-tooth roofs, and roofs with chimneys and other obstructions on top can collect snow in an unbalanced manner, the agency said.
—Bailey Allen, The Providence Journal, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obstruction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstruction
Noun
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Why cruise lines conduct safety drills Safety drills, also called muster drills, are not the brainchild of a sadistic cruise ship officer, trying to place obstacles between cruise guests and their sunbathing and cocktails.—
Erica Silverstein,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
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University officials tried to reassure the campus that the impacts of the new policy would be minimal, affecting only a small portion of the classes being offered and that class cancellations wouldn’t create any obstacles preventing students from staying on course to graduate.—
Juan A. Lozano,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The first major hurdle was genetics and to solve it, the research team built a dedicated breeding base in Lueyang county in Shaanxi, where Northwest A&F University is based.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
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Because they are considered low-impact, Type II actions are exempt from the full SEQRA environmental review process, which saves time and reduces bureaucratic hurdles.—
Carlina Rivera,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Panic, self-doubt, and embarrassment set in.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
29 Jan. 2026
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The latter, of course, gives better info, and the former gives fleeting metaphors and nearly faints from embarrassment.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Washington — Federal Reserve officials convene this week at a pivotal moment in the US central bank’s 112-year history, with a series of historic events putting a spotlight on their ability to set interest rates without political interference.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
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Underscoring all of the tension has been a battle over the Fed's independence, or its ability to operate without political interference.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Reframing Negotiation as Collaboration Perhaps the biggest mental barrier is viewing negotiation as conflict.—
Kwame Christian Esq,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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For all the progress in the lab, though, money remains a major barrier.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obstruction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstruction. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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