obstruct

verb

ob·​struct əb-ˈstrəkt How to pronounce obstruct (audio)
äb-
obstructed; obstructing; obstructs

transitive verb

1
: to block or close up by an obstacle
A piece of food obstructed his airway.
The road was obstructed by a fallen tree.
2
: to hinder from passage, action, or operation : impede
Constant interruptions obstruct our progress.
was charged with obstructing justice by lying to investigators
3
: to cut off from sight
A wall obstructs the view.
obstructive adjective or noun
obstructiveness noun
obstructor noun
Choose the Right Synonym for obstruct

hinder, impede, obstruct, block mean to interfere with the activity or progress of.

hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress.

rain hindered the climb

impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering.

tight clothing that impedes movement

obstruct implies interfering with something in motion or in progress by the sometimes intentional placing of obstacles in the way.

the view was obstructed by billboards

block implies complete obstruction to passage or progress.

a landslide blocked the road

Examples of obstruct in a Sentence

A large tree obstructed the road. A piece of food obstructed his airway and caused him to stop breathing. She was charged with obstructing police. She was charged with obstructing justice by lying to investigators.
Recent Examples on the Web One cat may obstruct an entrance to the litter box or block food bowls around meal times, indications that these resources should be increased and spread further apart so each animal has its own turf. Colleen Grablick, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Court records indicate he was found guilty of obstructing official business and recklessly operating a vehicle in January 2018; of disorderly conduct in April 2018; and of a restraining order violation in November 2018. Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024 Larry was arrested at the beginning of the season for obstructing the election process in the state of Georgia, which is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of $10,000. Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 He was ultimately charged in state court with second-degree felony arson and second-degree felony obstructing justice in relation to this fire, the Nov. 2 news release from the Salt Lake County district attorney said. Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2024 Balconies use glass partitions so as not to obstruct any views, and even base-level rooms are larger here than at some competing luxury hotels; a deluxe room with one king bed is 650 square feet. Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 29 Feb. 2024 His announcement placed an end date on an extraordinary run for a congressional leader known for his legislative prowess and talent for obstructing major Democratic agenda items. Carl Hulse, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Carrie, a former Wells Fargo executive, pled guilty last year to obstructing a regulatory investigation into the bank’s fake accounts scandal. $5,700,000 The Exeter Gravitas Trust, led by Michael and Mary Leigh Phillips, bought a 5,615-square-foot Paradise Valley home. Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 Per the indictment, Trump was charged with one count each of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obstruct.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin obstructus, past participle of obstruere, from ob- in the way + struere to build, heap up — more at ob-, strew

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of obstruct was in 1590

Dictionary Entries Near obstruct

Cite this Entry

“Obstruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstruct. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

obstruct

verb
ob·​struct əb-ˈstrəkt How to pronounce obstruct (audio)
äb-
1
: to close up by an obstacle
a fallen tree obstructed the roadway
2
: to be or get in the way of : hinder
lying to the police obstructs justice

Medical Definition

obstruct

transitive verb
ob·​struct əb-ˈstrəkt, äb- How to pronounce obstruct (audio)
: to block or close up by an obstacle
veins obstructed by clots

More from Merriam-Webster on obstruct

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