Meaning & use

obstruct

verb·Academic

To block or get in the way of a path, process, or view.

See it in a sentence

A fallen tree obstructed the only road out of the valley.

The senator was accused of trying to obstruct the investigation into the scandal.

A note on using this word

Obstruct can describe a literal physical blockage or a deliberate effort to hinder a process, as in 'obstruct justice'.

Words with a similar meaning

blockhinder

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

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