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
Iran’s president said the US blockade on Iranian ports remains a major obstacle to talks.
—
Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
For now, though, the industry still faces major obstacles that retail investors should be aware of before putting money into pot stocks, says Gerald Pascarelli, a consumer equity analyst at investment firm Needham & Company.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Zelenskyy said that repairs had been completed, removing the final obstacle to approval.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
While using Rallee, students might jump in place to help their avatar clear an obstacle or imitate their avatar by stretching their arms wide while taking a deep breath.
—Mary Jean Tecce Decarlo, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obstacle
Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
For now, though, the industry still faces major obstacles that retail investors should be aware of before putting money into pot stocks, says Gerald Pascarelli, a consumer equity analyst at investment firm Needham & Company.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Zelenskyy said that repairs had been completed, removing the final obstacle to approval.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
While using Rallee, students might jump in place to help their avatar clear an obstacle or imitate their avatar by stretching their arms wide while taking a deep breath.
—Mary Jean Tecce Decarlo, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obstacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstacle
Noun
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The biggest hurdles have been the logistics of assembling the designs in conjunction with partners WhiteWater West, which helped design Royal Caribbean’s water park as well.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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But for now, many families still face legal hurdles even in places where polyamory is becoming widely accepted.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The 13-year-old from Long Island, New York, had been born with ureterovesical junction obstruction, a rare congenital disease, where a blockage between the ureter and bladder causes urine to back up into the kidney.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
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According to police, necropsy results for both of the dead dogs revealed a cylindrical obstruction, resembling a corn cob, as well as a black substance consistent with bedding material.—
Kellie Love,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Well, the new strike zone and the obvious embarrassment of having a call overturned has changed how umpires call balls and strikes.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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For the annual dinner to occur at the White House itself would be a huge—okay, an even huger—embarrassment and conflict of interest.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Researchers in China have developed a new catalyst that helped a lithium-sulfur battery retain 93 percent of its capacity after 600 charge-discharge cycles, a step that could address one of the biggest barriers to commercializing the high-energy battery chemistry.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
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Three days after distance runner Sabastian Sawe became the first man to break the two-hour barrier in the marathon, his outfitter, Adidas, was still taking a victory lap.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obstacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstacle. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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