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
Extreme heat can also be an obstacle to exercising, spending time in nature, and socializing, all of which can make people feel good and also double as important coping mechanisms for emotional distress.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 26 July 2025
This pattern of persecution, especially when combined with ongoing habitat loss, has likely contributed to low recruitment and remains a major obstacle to population recovery.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
Strange new dude Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) proves an obstacle, and Spidey is rocked with a gut-punch announcement by controversial newsman J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons) revealing his secret identity.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 July 2025
The law threatened to erode public trust, jeopardize Ukraine's prospects for receiving Western aid, and pose obstacles to its European Union accession ambitions at a time when Russian forces continue military offensives against Ukrainian cities.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for obstacle
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Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 26 July 2025
This pattern of persecution, especially when combined with ongoing habitat loss, has likely contributed to low recruitment and remains a major obstacle to population recovery.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
Strange new dude Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) proves an obstacle, and Spidey is rocked with a gut-punch announcement by controversial newsman J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons) revealing his secret identity.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 July 2025
The law threatened to erode public trust, jeopardize Ukraine's prospects for receiving Western aid, and pose obstacles to its European Union accession ambitions at a time when Russian forces continue military offensives against Ukrainian cities.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 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 5 Aug. 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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