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impediment Definition

im·pedi·ment (im ped′ə mənt)

noun

  1. Now Rare an impeding or being impeded; obstruction
  2. anything that impedes; specif.,
    1. a speech defect; stutter, lisp, stammer, etc.
    2. anything preventing the making of a legal contract, esp. of a marriage contract
    3. R.C.Ch. anything making marriage or ordination invalid or illicit

Etymology: ME < L impedimentum, hindrance

impediment Synonyms

impediment

n.

  1. Something that impedes

    hindrance, obstacle, obstruction, barrier, block, bar, clog, stop, encumbrance, difficulty, check, retardation, stoppage, restriction, stricture, restraint, blockage, prohibition, inhibition, hurdle, wall, barricade, trammel, shackle, handicap, disability, disadvantage, deterrent, detriment, delay, traffic hazard, traffic jam, manacle, chain, tie, hitch, snag, setback, drag, burden, load, dead weight, drawback, stumbling block, fault, flaw, rub, roadblock*, holdup*, catch-22*, catch*, cramp*, bottleneck*, gridlock*, millstone around one's neck*, red tape*, monkey wrench in the machinery*, crimp*, joker*; see also barrier.

    Antonyms help*, aid, assistance.

  2. An obstruction in speech

    speech impediment, speech defect, speech disorder, difficulty, block, stutter, stuttering, stammer, stammering, lisp, lisping, lallation, lambdacism, halting, hairlip, cleft palate, aphasia, dysphasia.

impediment applies to anything that delays or retards progress by interfering with normal action a speech impediment; obstruction refers to anything that blocks progress or some activity as if by stopping up a passage your interference is an obstruction of justice; hindrance applies to anything that thwarts progress by holding back or delaying lack of supplies is the greatest hindrance to my experiment; obstacle is used of anything that literally or figuratively stands in the way of one's progress her father's opposition remained their only obstacle; barrier applies to any apparently insurmountable obstacle that prevents progress or access or keeps separate and apart cultural differences are often a barrier to understanding

impediment Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • constitute: These constitute genuine impediments to the Churches ' capacity to carry out their mission at the service of the people of the Holy Land.
  • overcome: I now like myself and am pleased to report that I have also overcome the speech impediment.
  • remove: To remove such impediment, land under the tea estates will be leased out on long term basis.
  • admit: Sonnet 116, William Shakespeare Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments.
  • eliminate: Aim: To eliminate impediments to good management, whilst ensuring fair treatment for individuals and safeguarding academic freedom.
  • identify: Again we can identify some impediments in the current environment.

Converse of subject

  • hinder: But his desire to speak his heart is hindered by various impediments...

Adjective modifier

  • lawful: I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I?
  • serious: He has a serious speech impediment, which has, on the evidence, blighted his life.
  • slight: Back at that age, poor Kyn did have a slight speech impediment.
  • institutional: It identified four institutional impediments to improve co-ordination of land use and transportation policies.
  • legal: The Public Records Acts 1958 & 1967 raise no legal impediment to charging for access to public records.
  • structural: Once built, they are a structural impediment to significantly reduced levels of waste disposal.

Preposition: on

  • road: Ideally traffic should flow without impediment on a trunk road so making it one way through the narrows conflicts with this ideal.

Noun used with modifier

  • speech: He has a serious speech impediment, which has, on the evidence, blighted his life.
  • hearing: Children with hearing impediments form the highest group that benefit from the available services ( approx.
  • sight: The fonts will scale to accommodate surfers with sight impediments.
  • traffic: They are often accompanied by high pollutant concentrations, traffic impediments due to restricted visibility or wind shear, and interference with health.

Preposition: in

  • way: The system at present " doesn't seem to be putting particular impediments in the way.
impediment Quotes

If any of you know cause or just impediment, why these two persons should not be joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. This is the first time of asking.

—Book of Common Prayer

Browse dictionary entries near impediment

  1. ‹ impede
  2. ‹ impedance
  3. ‹ impecunious
  4. ‹ impeccant
  5. ‹ impeccable
  6. ‹ impearl
  7. ‹ impeachment
  8. ‹ impeachable
  9. ‹ impeach
  10. ‹ impatient
  1. impedimenta ›
  2. impeding ›
  3. impel ›
  4. impeller ›
  5. impend ›
  6. impendent ›
  7. impending ›
  8. impenetrable ›
  9. impenitent ›
  10. imper ›