ob·sta·cle ( b st -kl)n. One that opposes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin obst  culum, from obstre, to hinder : ob-, against; see ob- + stre, to stand; see st- in Indo-European roots.]Synonyms: obstacle, obstruction, bar1, barrier, block, hindrance, impediment, snag All of these nouns refer to something that prevents action or slows progress. Obstacle applies to something that stands in the way: "We combat obstacles in order to get repose" (Henry Adams). An obstruction makes passage or progress difficult: A sandbar is an obstruction to navigation. Bar and barrier suggest an obstruction that confines or prevents exit or entry: "Tyranny may always enter  there is no charm, no bar against itthe only bar against it is a large resolute breed of men" (Walt Whitman). "Literature is my Utopia.... No barrier of the senses shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourse of my book friends" (Helen Keller).Block suggests obstruction that effectively prevents all passage: I had a mental block and couldn't remember the date. Hindrance and impediment are applied to something that interferes with or delays passage or progress: "an attachment that would be a hindrance to him in any honorable career" (Thomas Hardy). Overcrowded classrooms are an impediment to learning. A snag is an unforeseen or hidden, often transitory obstacle: Due to a snag in plans, the project was delayed. |
obstacle
Noun
1. a situation or event that prevents something being done: there are obstacles which could slow the development of a vaccine
2. a person or thing that hinders movement [Latin obstaculum, from ob- against + stare to stand]
Any obstruction designed or employed to disrupt, fix, turn, or block the movement of an opposing force, and to impose additional losses in personnel, time, and equipment on the opposing force. Obstacles can be natural, manmade, or a combination of both.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  obstacle - something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted; "lack of imagination is an obstacle to one's advancement"; "the poverty of a district is an obstacle to good education"; "the filibuster was a major obstruction to the success of their plan"deterrent, hinderance, hindrance, impediment, balk, baulk, handicap, check - something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress roadblock, barrier - any condition that makes it difficult to make progress or to achieve an objective; "intolerance is a barrier to understanding" hurdle - an obstacle that you are expected to overcome; "the last hurdle before graduation" |
| 2. | obstacle - an obstruction that stands in the way (and must be removed or surmounted or circumvented) hazard - an obstacle on a golf course impedimenta, obstruction, obstructor, obstructer, impediment - any structure that makes progress difficult stumbling block - any obstacle or impediment water jump - a pool or stream in a steeplechase or similar contest |
obstacle
noun 2. hindrance, check, bar, block, difficulty, barrier, handicap, hurdle, hitch, drawback, snag, deterrent, uphill S. African obstruction, stumbling block, impediment << OPPOSITE help
Translations
n obstacle [ˈobstəkl]
something which prevents progress His inability to learn foreign languages was an obstacle to his career. hindernis, struikelblok عَقَبَه، عائِق пречка překážka forhindring das Hindernis εμπόδιο obstáculo takistus مانع este obstacle מִכשוֹל अवरोध, अटकाव zapreka akadály hambatan hindrun ostacolo 障害 장애(물) kliūtis šķērslis halangan hinderpaal hindring przeszkoda obstáculo obstacol препятствие; преграда prekážka ovira prepreka hinder อุปสรรค engel 障礙 перешкода, завада رکاوت trở ngại 障碍
obstacle race
a race in which runners have to climb over, crawl through etc obstacles such as tyres, nets etc. hinderniswedren سِباق الحَواجِز бягане с препятствия překážkový běh forhindringsløb der Hindernislauf αγώνας δρόμου μετ' εμποδίων carrera de obstáculos takistusjooks دو صحرایی با مانع esteratajuoksu course d'obstacles מֵרוֹץ מִכשוֹלִים बाधा दौड़ prepreka akadályverseny lari rintangan hindrunarhlaup corsa a ostacoli 障害物競争 장애물 경주 kliūčių ruožas barjerskrējiens; šķēršļu joslas pārvarēšana lumba lari berhalangan wedren met hindernissen hinderløp bieg z przeszkodami corrida de obstáculos cursă cu obstacole бег с препятствиями prekážkový beh tek čez zapreke trka s preponama hindertävling การแข่งวิบาก engelli koşu 障礙賽跑 біг з перешкодами دوڑ کا ايسا مقابلہ ميں جس شرکاء کا رکاوٹيں عبور کرنا ہو cuộc đua vượt chướng ngại vật 障碍赛跑
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