as in obstacles
something that makes movement or progress difficult
an obstruction in the drain has the water all backed up
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Recent Examples of obstructions
Not just crashes, but obstructions, emergency scene conflicts, unexpected stops in travel lanes and response-time performance.
—
David Roberts, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Of the photons of light that avoid clouds of dust and other deep-space obstructions to reach our planet, most don’t make it through Earth’s thick atmosphere, let alone through a telescope’s loss-prone optics.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 27 May 2026
Water causes cotton to expand rather than dissolve, which can create obstructions in pipes.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 21 May 2026
If your garbage disposal makes strange noises, turn it off and check for any obstructions in the drain.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 21 May 2026
Keep in mind, however, that unlike with sunset, there are more likely to be local obstructions to your visibility of the rising sun.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 18 May 2026
If safe, residents are asked to remove any obstructions to the public street, right of way, and sidewalk.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 6 May 2026
But the Scot hooked his second shot from a wet fairway on the 609-yard closing hole — a par 5 that yielded only 10 birdies in the final round — and even after getting relief from temporary immovable obstructions, MacIntyre could only hit wedge to 30 feet.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
On Wednesday and Thursday, the Public Works Department was staging equipment, working to clear debris from roads and inspecting drainages for obstructions ahead of the next storm’s arrival Thursday night.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
David Roberts, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Of the photons of light that avoid clouds of dust and other deep-space obstructions to reach our planet, most don’t make it through Earth’s thick atmosphere, let alone through a telescope’s loss-prone optics.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 27 May 2026
Water causes cotton to expand rather than dissolve, which can create obstructions in pipes.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 21 May 2026
If your garbage disposal makes strange noises, turn it off and check for any obstructions in the drain.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 21 May 2026
Keep in mind, however, that unlike with sunset, there are more likely to be local obstructions to your visibility of the rising sun.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 18 May 2026
If safe, residents are asked to remove any obstructions to the public street, right of way, and sidewalk.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 6 May 2026
But the Scot hooked his second shot from a wet fairway on the 609-yard closing hole — a par 5 that yielded only 10 birdies in the final round — and even after getting relief from temporary immovable obstructions, MacIntyre could only hit wedge to 30 feet.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
On Wednesday and Thursday, the Public Works Department was staging equipment, working to clear debris from roads and inspecting drainages for obstructions ahead of the next storm’s arrival Thursday night.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstructions
Noun
-
The winner in November will lead the country's most populous state, facing a large deficit and other obstacles, including the state's high cost of living, homelessness and wildfire risk.—
Marisa Lagos,
NPR,
6 June 2026
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Despite the ongoing ups and downs of the housing market, including economic cycles and affordability obstacles including post-pandemic high interest rates, low inventory, and soaring prices, women – particularly Millennials – have continued to show resiliency.—
Kathy Collins,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
Overcoming cost barriers with advanced architecture Traditional nuclear energy projects frequently face economic hurdles due to the extensive lead times and high capital requirements of manufacturing heavy components.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
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California has the third-most data centers in the country, with 300, but high electricity rates, expensive land and regulatory hurdles mean that fewer, and smaller, facilities are currently planned than in other hotspots.—
Blanca Begert,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
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So using these as natural barriers obviously has an enormous significance — enormous importance.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
6 June 2026
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The department is also advancing plans for the South Delta Gates project, which would replace the temporary rock barriers with permanent operable gates.—
Reeti Malhotra
June 5,
Sacbee.com,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obstructions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstructions. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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