1
as in impeding
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
this would go much faster if you would stop obstructing me with your constant interruptions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blocking
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 obstructing
Salah was convicted in April on one count of planting the hoax bomb and another count of obstructing the free exercise of religion.
—
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan is facing federal charges for allegedly obstructing agents trying to arrest an undocumented immigrant.
—John Diedrich, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025
But the detectives thought there was evidence to support a charge for obstructing an officer—a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to nine months in jail—because Ryan had planted physical evidence meant to mislead them.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
The sky above you clearly seen, not kept from your sight by any obstructing roof.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Diaz received just over six years in prison after pleading guilty to distributing painkillers and obstructing justice in a cooperation deal that also required his testimony at Carpman’s trial.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
She was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree child abuse, felonious assault and assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, investigators said.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2025
After her third arrest in November 2024, Chelsea pled guilty in February 2025 to charges of resisting or obstructing an officer, felony bail jumping and possession of methamphetamine, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE.
—Anna Myers, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
She was also charged with two counts of possession/illegally obtaining prescription drugs and resisting or obstructing an officer.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstructing
Verb
-
DeFoor was set to appear in federal court later Tuesday on federal charges of damaging government property, engaging in physical violence against any person or property in a restricted building or grounds, and assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers.—
-
DeFoor also faces federal charges of damaging government property, engaging in physical violence against any person or property in a restricted building or grounds, and assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers.—
Verb
-
In the 47-second video, the agent can be seen walking around Good’s maroon Honda Pilot, which is in the middle of the street blocking traffic.—
-
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension accuses the FBI of blocking it from accessing evidence in the investigation.—
Verb
-
This left the country without a regular budget for next year and is hampering plans for long-overdue structural reforms and decisions on use of EU support funds.—
-
Decades-old grids in the US are hampering new energy rollouts, and Spain’s huge blackout in April was blamed on an aged system unable to cope with power swings.—
Verb
-
Supporters of recent state AI regulations said the measures will address potential threats to public safety and personal privacy, and to counter any mendacious actions created by AI, while not hindering innovation.—
-
Troconis is serving a 14½ year prison sentence following a trial that ended with her conviction on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence, hindering prosecution and additional conspiracy charges.—
Verb
-
The report reiterated concerns about seven situations, two of which have been on the list since 2007, including the bureaucracy’s chronic inability to successfully employ information technology — embarrassing for a state that is the global center for digital tools.—
-
An ever-growing pile of embarrassing legislative audits consistently reveals the persistent challenge the governor has with recruiting and retaining leaders with executive acumen.—
Cite this Entry
“Obstructing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstructing. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share