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-FieldExamples 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
Kennedy’s announcement does not broadly address healthy adults, but under the new FDA framework, healthy adults who wish to receive the fall COVID-19 vaccine will likely face obstacles.
—Libby Richards, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
The Times spoke to both sides, as well as multiple experts to better understand the high-stakes litigation, which faces obstacles but could shake up California’s home insurance industry.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
More obstacles: Boston Legacy will play its first NWSL season at Gillette Stadium after delays to the redevelopment of White Stadium caused the club to look elsewhere for its 2026 home games.
—Emily Olsen, New York Times, 28 May 2025
In healthcare alone, some stakeholders view fax—or the healthcare industry's overreliance on it—as an obstacle to seamless information exchange.
—Jeffrey Sullivan, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for obstacle
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Libby Richards, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
The Times spoke to both sides, as well as multiple experts to better understand the high-stakes litigation, which faces obstacles but could shake up California’s home insurance industry.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
More obstacles: Boston Legacy will play its first NWSL season at Gillette Stadium after delays to the redevelopment of White Stadium caused the club to look elsewhere for its 2026 home games.
—Emily Olsen, New York Times, 28 May 2025
In healthcare alone, some stakeholders view fax—or the healthcare industry's overreliance on it—as an obstacle to seamless information exchange.
—Jeffrey Sullivan, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for obstacle
Cite this Entry
“Obstacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstacle. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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