as in hurdle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
stumbling on all the obstacles along the path
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Recent Examples of obstacle
Staying motivated and effective over months — when no grade is attached, when progress is slow, and when obstacles require adaptation — builds a different, more valuable skill set.
—
Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
What are the remaining obstacles standing in the way of these major goals—from increasing screening rates to eliminating cervical cancer?
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 15 May 2026
Going all-out, Thompson and his co-author, Ezra Klein, wrote in their 2025 book, Abundance, is mainly about, at least as far as climate is concerned, removing regulatory obstacles to building green-energy infrastructure.
—John Reid, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Last year, the company recalled more than 1,200 autonomous vehicles after minor crashes involving obstacles in the road.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for obstacle
Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
What are the remaining obstacles standing in the way of these major goals—from increasing screening rates to eliminating cervical cancer?
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 15 May 2026
Going all-out, Thompson and his co-author, Ezra Klein, wrote in their 2025 book, Abundance, is mainly about, at least as far as climate is concerned, removing regulatory obstacles to building green-energy infrastructure.
—John Reid, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Last year, the company recalled more than 1,200 autonomous vehicles after minor crashes involving obstacles in the road.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for obstacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstacle
Noun
-
The former junkyard is seen as ripe for future redevelopment, but an environmental clean-up is clearly a costly hurdle to be cleared.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
Regular New Yorkers don’t care about the reasons for the bureaucratic hurdles.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Smith was indicted for principal to manslaughter, principal to felony hazing and obstruction of justice.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
In December, Hill pleaded guilty to state charges of misconduct, perjury and obstruction of justice and was put on probation.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
In light of her public embarrassment, her author father, Greg, accepts a position as a visiting lecturer on campus to be close to his daughter in her time of need.—
Leigh Nordstrom,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
-
Wilson’s an embarrassment to our police department.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The new barrier panels would be installed on top of the existing concrete barriers with anchored metal plates spaced about 20 feet apart.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 May 2026
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The legislation aims to increase housing supply and reduce regulatory barriers to construction, with the House adding amendments to the Senate version of the bill to restrict large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obstacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstacle. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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