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obstruct

verb
ob·​struct | \ əb-ˈstrəkt How to pronounce obstruct (audio) , äb-\
obstructed; obstructing; obstructs

Definition of obstruct

transitive verb

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.
Other Words from obstruct Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about obstruct

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Other Words from obstruct

obstructive \ əb-​ˈstrək-​tiv How to pronounce obstructive (audio) , äb-​ \ adjective or noun
obstructiveness noun
obstructor \ əb-​ˈstrək-​tər How to pronounce obstructor (audio) , äb-​ \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for obstruct

hinder, impede, obstruct, block mean to interfere with the activity or progress of. hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress. rain hindered the climb impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering. tight clothing that impedes movement obstruct implies interfering with something in motion or in progress by the sometimes intentional placing of obstacles in the way. the view was obstructed by billboards block implies complete obstruction to passage or progress. a landslide blocked the road

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.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Sylvia Gonzalez, 72, was arrested last month and charged with tampering with a government record/obstructing an investigation, a misdemeanor. — Emilie Eaton, ExpressNews.com, "DA dismisses tampering charge against former Castle Hills councilwoman," 23 Aug. 2019 Make sure the pad is smooth and nothing obstructs the path of the mouse. — Matthew Gault, Time, "Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins Reveals His Top Tips for Video Game Domination," 22 Aug. 2019 Other property owners complained that Capano’s house will obstruct their own panoramic views of the ocean. — USA TODAY, "‘Stranger’ tourists, Phish and the plague, kinkajou attack: News from around our 50 states," 22 Aug. 2019 He’s spent time in prison on robbery charges, and has faced charges of armed robbery and burglary, aggravated battery, grand theft and obstructing justice by tampering with a witness. — Brooke Baitinger, sun-sentinel.com, "Man who chased down kidnap suspect tells how boy jumped from moving truck," 22 Aug. 2019 At a tense public meeting in April, Breed herself was indignant that residents could call for leaders to respond to the city’s homelessness crisis only to go to such great lengths to obstruct a new shelter. — Dominic Fracassa, SFChronicle.com, "Breed beefs up patrols, outreach after more waterfront attacks come to light," 21 Aug. 2019 Miller is serving a 30-year sentence for crimes in Lake County including battery on a law-enforcement officer, obstructing a criminal investigation and selling cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school. — Stephen Hudak, orlandosentinel.com, "Fourth Lake Correctional Institution guard charged in videotaped beating of prisoner," 19 Aug. 2019 The work features a fence that partially obstructs images of a bloody handgun and a pair of giant hands hammering up a banner bearing the signature phrase from the Gadsden flag, the banner of the Tea Party. — Steven Litt, cleveland.com, "2019 Whitney Biennial filled with anxiety-ridden artworks that inspire empathy, indict the powerful," 18 Aug. 2019 Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee claim Lewandowski and Dearborn played a role in the president obstructing former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, "House Judiciary subpoenas Corey Lewandowski hours before appearance at Trump rally," 15 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'obstruct.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of obstruct

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for obstruct

Latin obstructus, past participle of obstruere, from ob- in the way + struere to build, heap up — more at ob-, strew

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More Definitions for obstruct

obstruct

verb
How to pronounce obstruct (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of obstruct

somewhat formal
: to block (something, such as a pipe or street) so that things cannot move through easily
: to slow or block the movement, progress, or action of (something or someone)
: to be in front of (something) : to make (something) difficult to see

See the full definition for obstruct in the English Language Learners Dictionary

obstruct

verb
ob·​struct | \ əb-ˈstrəkt How to pronounce obstruct (audio) \
obstructed; obstructing

Kids Definition of obstruct

1 : to block or make passage through difficult A fallen tree is obstructing the road.

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