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
Such large-scale research has been difficult, particularly during the most deadly waves of the pandemic when clinic restrictions and medical emergencies obstructed consistent testing.
—
Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 27 Dec. 2024
Visibility on the roadway is obstructed by smoke emitted by the fire, said Lt. Col. Philip Marchegion of the Louisville Division of Fire.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 19 Dec. 2024
Prosecutors said in November that former Adams aide Mohamed Bahi is also weighing a plea deal in a separate case, in which he’s charged with obstructing the corruption investigation that led to the mayor’s indictment.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 23 Dec. 2024
Twenty-two of the charges, including 11 counts of obstructing free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and 11 hate crimes resulting in death, carried the death penalty.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obstruct 
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Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 27 Dec. 2024
Visibility on the roadway is obstructed by smoke emitted by the fire, said Lt. Col. Philip Marchegion of the Louisville Division of Fire.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 19 Dec. 2024
Prosecutors said in November that former Adams aide Mohamed Bahi is also weighing a plea deal in a separate case, in which he’s charged with obstructing the corruption investigation that led to the mayor’s indictment.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 23 Dec. 2024
Twenty-two of the charges, including 11 counts of obstructing free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and 11 hate crimes resulting in death, carried the death penalty.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 23 Dec. 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 10 Jan. 2025.
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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