obstacle
noun
ob·sta·cle
ˈäb-sti-kəl 
-ˌsti-
: something that impedes progress or achievement
Mosquitoes were a great obstacle to the building of the Panama Canal.
… elders … often facing daily medical, social, and psychological obstacles.—
Vicki Bloom and B. B. Green-Field
Vicki Bloom and B. B. Green-Field
Synonyms
Examples of obstacle in a Sentence
He overcame the obstacles of poverty and neglect.
They must overcome a number of obstacles before the restaurant can be opened.
Lack of experience is a major obstacle for her opponent.
She swerved to avoid an obstacle in the road.
Recent Examples on the Web
Now that West Sac is bigger, its leaders confront more obstacles and opposition.
—Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2024
All of a sudden, the possible obstacle of geography melted away.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Regulatory obstacles, cost overruns, and longer-than-expected timelines have turned some investors skittish and impatient, drying up venture capital funding and slowing momentum.
—Vivian Song, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
That battery dominance is no small obstacle, as JATO Dynamics global analyst Felipe Munoz explains.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 10 Apr. 2024
Funding could face obstacles from some congressional Republicans, even though such aid has been approved on a bipartisan basis in the past.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Both teams of scientists encountered strange political and natural obstacles in making the discovery, which are chronicled beautifully in the book No Shadow of a Doubt: The 1919 Eclipse That Confirmed Einstein's Theory of Relativity, by the physicist Daniel Kennefick.
—Rebecca Boyle, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
But beyond the threat of legal action, the president faces steep obstacles just because of the calendar.
—Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Funding is the plan’s greatest obstacle, along with the environmental studies to be completed and permits required from local, state and federal agencies.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2024
Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2024
All of a sudden, the possible obstacle of geography melted away.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Regulatory obstacles, cost overruns, and longer-than-expected timelines have turned some investors skittish and impatient, drying up venture capital funding and slowing momentum.
—Vivian Song, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
That battery dominance is no small obstacle, as JATO Dynamics global analyst Felipe Munoz explains.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 10 Apr. 2024
Funding could face obstacles from some congressional Republicans, even though such aid has been approved on a bipartisan basis in the past.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Both teams of scientists encountered strange political and natural obstacles in making the discovery, which are chronicled beautifully in the book No Shadow of a Doubt: The 1919 Eclipse That Confirmed Einstein's Theory of Relativity, by the physicist Daniel Kennefick.
—Rebecca Boyle, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
But beyond the threat of legal action, the president faces steep obstacles just because of the calendar.
—Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Funding is the plan’s greatest obstacle, along with the environmental studies to be completed and permits required from local, state and federal agencies.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obstacle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing obstacle
Dictionary Entries Near obstacle
Cite this Entry
“Obstacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstacle. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
obstacle
noun
ob·sta·cle
ˈäb-sti-kəl
: something that stands in the way of progress or achievement : hindrance
drove around the obstacles in the road
didn't let shortness be an obstacle to a basketball career
More from Merriam-Webster on obstacle
Nglish: Translation of obstacle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of obstacle for Arabic Speakers
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