obstruct
verb
ob·struct
əb-ˈstrəkt 
äb-
obstructed; obstructing; obstructs
1
: to block or close up by an obstacle
A piece of food obstructed his airway.
The road was obstructed by a fallen tree.
2
: to hinder from passage, action, or operation : impede
Constant interruptions obstruct our progress.
was charged with obstructing justice by lying to investigators
3
: to cut off from sight
A wall obstructs the view.
obstructiveness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of obstruct in a Sentence
A large tree obstructed the road.
A piece of food obstructed his airway and caused him to stop breathing.
She was charged with obstructing police.
She was charged with obstructing justice by lying to investigators.
Recent Examples on the Web
The organization said Choi ran with the assistance of two unauthorized people riding the course on electric bicycles, which obstructed runners.
—
Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Spencer, who was defeated in his re-election bid in April, is facing charges of felony misconduct in office and resisting or obstructing an officer, a misdemeanor.
—Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2024
The humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza has been exacerbated by a sustained Israeli military campaign that has obstructed aid delivery since mid-October.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Many of those involved in obstructing the vote in 2020 still hold office, including fifteen county-level Board of Elections members who opposed or delayed certifying election results and five G.O.P. state officials who attempted to throw Pennsylvania’s Electoral College votes to Trump in 2020.
—Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obstruct 
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Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Spencer, who was defeated in his re-election bid in April, is facing charges of felony misconduct in office and resisting or obstructing an officer, a misdemeanor.
—Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2024
The humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza has been exacerbated by a sustained Israeli military campaign that has obstructed aid delivery since mid-October.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Many of those involved in obstructing the vote in 2020 still hold office, including fifteen county-level Board of Elections members who opposed or delayed certifying election results and five G.O.P. state officials who attempted to throw Pennsylvania’s Electoral College votes to Trump in 2020.
—Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obstruct
Dictionary Entries Near obstruct
Cite this Entry
“Obstruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstruct. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obstruct
verb
ob·struct
əb-ˈstrəkt
äb-
1
: to close up by an obstacle
a fallen tree obstructed the roadway
2
: to be or get in the way of : hinder
lying to the police obstructs justice
Medical Definition
obstruct
transitive verb
ob·struct
əb-ˈstrəkt, äb-
: to block or close up by an obstacle
veins obstructed by clots
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