obstacle Hear it!

obstacle Definition

ob·sta·cle (äbstə kəl)

noun

anything that gets in the way or hinders; impediment; obstruction; hindrance

Etymology: OFr < L obstaculum, obstacle < obstare, to withstand < ob- (see ob-) + stare, to stand

obstacle Synonyms

obstacle

n.

obstacle Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • overcome: I want to hear from you about how we can overcome these obstacles.
  • remove: The main use of the tree by people has always been to remove obstacles.
  • surmount: Young people from impoverished areas often have to surmount additional obstacles to gain a better education.
  • pose: Phenomena of all kinds manifest themselves in the course of an analysis, which have the effect of posing an obstacle to the treatment.
  • encounter: In our own personal journey up the ladder of spirituality we encounter obstacles.
  • negotiate: Chicanes require road users to negotiate an obstacle, therefore encouraging them to slow down.

Preposition: in

  • path: This plan would put obstacles in the path of their return.
  • way: There were obstacles in the way to his joining the regular seminary classes.
  • front: There are many difficulties and obstacles in front of you which you will have to overcome.

Adjective modifier

  • insurmountable: The rule of the bureaucracy remained an insurmountable obstacle, blocking the road toward socialism.
  • formidable: The legacy of Cyprus's divisive recent history, including bloody ethnic fighting, is a formidable obstacle.
  • insuperable: We do not see any of these matters as insuperable obstacles.
  • bureaucratic: Last night West Berkshire council gave planning consent to the project, removing the last bureaucratic obstacle to construction of the laser.
  • major: The issue of funding the action is still a major obstacle.
  • man-made: Its value lies in the absence of coercion or man-made obstacles to the exercise of people's powers and capacities.

Modifies a noun

  • course: The fax went through the same obstacle course ten years ago.
  • clearance: Other aircraft should use the taxiways with extreme caution due to the reduced obstacle clearance.
  • race: Not on the evidence of a decent run in another obstacle race at Cheltenham.

Noun used with modifier

  • anti-tank: Anti-tank obstacles can not be located adjacent to each other; there must be a gap of at least 4 base widths.
  • marathon: He did not want to go over the bridge and we had to turn around in one of the marathon obstacles.