obstructs

verb

present tense third-person singular of obstruct
1
as in impedes
to create difficulty for the work or activity of this would go much faster if you would stop obstructing me with your constant interruptions

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blocks
to prevent passage through by filling with something at the moment the city's only tunnel between downtown and the airport is obstructed by an overturned tanker truck

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obstructs Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2026 Anatasia steals a truck and obstructs their path, sacrificing herself to a bleak future, all in the name of love. — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 10 July 2026 But the data shows the current system obstructs even valid complaints. — Christie Thompson, NPR, 17 June 2026 White insisted on the extra room to ensure that nothing obstructs the White House TV shot. — Sean Gregory, Time, 26 May 2026 The intense, uncomfortable light that shines directly at the viewer and obstructs their eyesight. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 6 May 2026 The opportunities for science abound, such as the spectacular sight of a solar eclipse when the moon fully obstructs the sun from view. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 4 Apr. 2026 This constitutes a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, undermines the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and obstructs the establishment of their independent sovereign state . — CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026 Wave action and fragile ice obstructs rescue potential. — Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstructs
  1. impedes
  2. blocks
  3. hinders
  4. fills
  5. hampers
  6. embarrasses
Verb
  • Typically, PAs are putting in 60-hour workweeks, and their duties can include everything from running errands to cleaning up messes to managing the general public when filming takes place in a location and impedes foot or car traffic.
    — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Contempt of Congress is a federal misdemeanor in which an individual willfully disobeys or impedes a congressional investigation.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of impedes
Verb
  • The effect essentially gives Roman a parking spot in space, enabling engineers on Earth to remain in constant contact with the telescope, while making sure Earth never blocks its view of the cosmos.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 30 Aug. 2026
  • If the teams refuse to enroll the players who benefit from the TRO, those players could petition Hoffman to clarify that his order also blocks the SEC from punishing schools.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of blocks
Verb
  • True commitment allows strategies to develop and succeed, as indecision hinders progress.
    — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Neptune retrograde hinders our intuition, leaving us lost in the fog.
    — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 15 July 2026
Definition of hinders
Verb
  • The smell of freshly ground espresso and incense fills the air, and staff speak to patients in hushed, discreet tones, almost as if discussing state secrets.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The person who fills gaps consistently becomes indispensable to the people around them.
    — Stacy L. Hambleton, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of fills
Verb
  • That marks a 37% increase from the same time last year, as the Iran war hampers oil supply.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The lack of open pores in the soil also hampers the movement of air and water.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of hampers
Verb
  • Graft inquiry embarrasses Zelensky Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said in a Telegram announcement that the investigation into Yermak is ongoing.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
  • Now the technology embarrasses an umpire even more than a player could, and what’s the recourse?
    — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of embarrasses

Browse Nearby Words

obstructions
obstructs
obtain
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Obstructs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstructs. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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