impediment

noun

im-ˈpe-də-mənt How to pronounce impediment (audio)
Definition of impedimentnext
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult tough going for the burros on the canyon trail, even without the added impediment of heavy loads

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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 impediment Bird-friendly design measures have been effectively mandated with no impediment to development in cities including New York, San Francisco, Toronto, and locally in Evanston, Lake County and Skokie. — Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026 Israel’s example challenges the argument outlined by Bo Becker and other researchers at the Center for Policy Research that an insufficient home market size is a key impediment to scaling up young European companies. — Andrew McAfee, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026 Here, too, Sussman assembles a formidable catalogue of impediments. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026 There’s no spark between Gleeson and Frei, and the biggest impediments to the characters’ relationsip are self-imposed (Ned takes himself too seriously). — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for impediment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impediment
  1. obstacle
  2. hurdle
  3. obstruction
  4. embarrassment
  5. barrier
Noun
  • There’s outward social and internalized pressure on the Dashwood sisters to marry, and do it quickly, but per any Austen tale, the path is blotchy and blocked by obstacles and second-guessing.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
  • During robot operation, LiDAR supplies information about the surrounding environment, helping the framework account for obstacles and available clearance.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of obstacle
Noun
  • Our main hurdle has always been convincing people to pay for a cinema ticket to watch two episodes of a series.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Most of the K-pop festivals that have been announced over the last few years never went ahead due to various logistical hurdles.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of hurdle
Noun
  • Much of Argentina is flat, allowing AM signals to travel hundreds of miles without obstruction.
    — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Thompson was charged and ended up pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice and one count of misprision of a felony.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of obstruction
Noun
  • What about art that makes one cringe with embarrassment at its existence?
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Chronicling the hyper-niche behaviors that define our online existence, Berlant describes the seemingly inescapable embarrassment of wasting one’s life away in an endless scroll.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of embarrassment
Noun
  • There is a flood of creator content available due to a low barrier to entry, and that is now being accelerated by generative AI tools.
    — William Daddi, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Sometimes, the biggest barrier between a patient and their treatment is not pharmacology.
    — Marcela Gottschald, STAT, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of barrier

Browse Nearby Words

impedes
impediment
impedimenta
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Impediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impediment. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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