obstacle
noun
ob·sta·cle
ˈäb-sti-kəl 
-ˌsti-
: something that impedes progress or achievement
Mosquitoes were a great obstacle to the building of the Panama Canal.
… elders … often facing daily medical, social, and psychological obstacles.—
Vicki Bloom and B. B. Green-Field
Vicki Bloom and B. B. Green-FieldExamples of obstacle in a Sentence
He overcame the obstacles of poverty and neglect.
They must overcome a number of obstacles before the restaurant can be opened.
Lack of experience is a major obstacle for her opponent.
She swerved to avoid an obstacle in the road.
Recent Examples on the Web
Existing Challenges While the impact of these types of fintechs is already significant, their work is not without its own set of obstacles, and several ongoing challenges remain.
—Murtaza Ali, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Raise the stakes, place insuperable obstacles before the protagonist, have the protagonist somehow surmount them while becoming braver and better.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
The park’s closure is another obstacle for those in charge of WorldPride, an international LGBTQ Pride celebration taking place this year in Washington.
—Brooke Migdon, The Hill, 6 June 2025
But more important than the accolades is her core philosophy: to meet obstacles with adaptability and always to find new ways to meet market demands.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for obstacle
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Murtaza Ali, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Raise the stakes, place insuperable obstacles before the protagonist, have the protagonist somehow surmount them while becoming braver and better.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
The park’s closure is another obstacle for those in charge of WorldPride, an international LGBTQ Pride celebration taking place this year in Washington.
—Brooke Migdon, The Hill, 6 June 2025
But more important than the accolades is her core philosophy: to meet obstacles with adaptability and always to find new ways to meet market demands.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for obstacle
Cite this Entry
“Obstacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstacle. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obstacle
noun
ob·sta·cle
ˈäb-sti-kəl
: something that stands in the way of progress or achievement : hindrance
drove around the obstacles in the road
didn't let shortness be an obstacle to a basketball career
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