obstruct

To block or fill (a passage) with obstacles or an obstacle.

Verb

  1. To block or fill (a passage) with obstacles or an obstacle.

    Synonyms: block

  2. To impede, retard, or interfere with; hinder.
    • They obstructed my progress.
  3. To get in the way of so as to hide from sight.

Origin

From Latin past participle stem obstruct- (“blocked up”), from verb obstruere, from ob (“against”) + struere (“pile up, build”).

Forms

obstructs obstructing obstructed

Synonyms

barricade block choke clog close off cumber forslow forwork foul gunk up hamper hinder impede interfere interrupt intervene jam obstruct obturate occlude plug roadblock seal stonewall

Antonyms

clear deobstruct open unblock

Related

obstacle

Derived

deobstruct disobstruct obstructed obstructedly obstructer obstructive obstruct the field unobstruct unobstructed unobstructedly