Obstructing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /əb-ˈstrəkt/ ob·struct

Meaning & Definition of Obstructing

Obstructing (verb)

  1. to block or close up by an obstacle
  2. to hinder from passage, action, or operation, impede
  3. to cut off from sight

Obstructing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to create difficulty for the work or activity of

    "this would go much faster if you would stop obstructing me with your constant interruptions"

    similar: clogging, cramping, embarrassing, encumbering, fettering, hampering, handcuffing, handicapping, hindering, hobbling, hog-tying, holding back, holding up, impeding, inhibiting, interfering (with), manacling, shackling, short-circuiting, stymieing, trammeling, tying up, cramping one's style, giving a hard time
    related: balking, checking, constraining, curbing, reining, restraining, binding, chaining, haltering, leashing, tethering, tying, arresting, braking, delaying, retaining, retarding, barricading, blockading, blocking, roadblocking, bogging (down), miring, choking, smothering, stifling, strangling, suffocating, baffling, foiling, frustrating, stumping, thwarting, derailing, disrupting, sabotaging, muzzling, repressing, suppressing, confining, hedging (in), hemming (in)
    opposite: aiding, assisting, facilitating, helping
    near: clearing, making way, opening, unclogging, unplugging, unstopping, freeing, liberating, releasing, untying, loosening, smoothing, encouraging, furthering, promoting

  2. 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"

    similar: blocking, choking, clogging, clotting, congesting, damming, gumming (up), jamming, occluding, plugging (up), stopping (up), stuffing
    related: bunging, corking, spiling, stoppering, stoppling, filling, gridlocking, packing, furring, silting, flooding, glutting, inundating, overwhelming, swamping
    opposite: clearing, freeing, opening (up), unblocking, unclogging, unplugging, unstopping
    near: excavating, hollowing (out), scooping (out), emptying, lightening

Related Entry: Obstruct (verb)

Obstruct is a different word from Obstructing. The synonyms below are for obstruct, not for obstructing.

  1. to create difficulty for the work or activity of

    "this would go much faster if you would stop obstructing me with your constant interruptions"

    similar: clog, cramp, embarrass, encumber, fetter, hamper, handcuff, handicap, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, shackle, short-circuit, stymie, tie up, trammel, cramp one's style, give a hard time
    related: balk, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain, bind, chain, halter, leash, tether, tie, arrest, brake, delay, retain, retard, barricade, block, blockade, roadblock, bog (down), mire, choke, smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate, baffle, foil, frustrate, stump, thwart, derail, disrupt, sabotage, muzzle, repress, suppress, confine, hedge (in), hem (in)
    opposite: aid, assist, facilitate, help
    near: clear, make way, open, unclog, unplug, unstop, free, liberate, release, untie, loosen, smooth, encourage, further, promote

  2. 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"

    similar: block, choke, clog, clot, congest, dam, gum (up), jam, occlude, plug (up), stop (up), stuff
    related: bung, cork, spile, stopper, stopple, fill, gridlock, pack, fur, silt, flood, glut, inundate, overwhelm, swamp
    opposite: clear, free, open (up), unblock, unclog, unplug, unstop
    near: excavate, hollow (out), scoop (out), empty, lighten

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Obstructing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Obstructing:

clogging, cramping, embarrassing, encumbering, fettering, hampering, handcuffing, handicapping, hindering, hobbling, hog-tying, holding back, holding up, impeding, inhibiting, interfering (with), manacling, shackling, short-circuiting, stymieing, trammeling, tying up, blocking, choking, clotting, congesting, damming, gumming (up), jamming, occluding, plugging (up), stopping (up), stuffing, cramping one's style, giving a hard time

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Obstructing

Words with the opposite meaning of Obstructing:

aiding, assisting, facilitating, helping, clearing, freeing, opening (up), unblocking, unclogging, unplugging, unstopping

Related Words for Obstructing

balking, checking, constraining, curbing, reining, restraining, binding, chaining, haltering, leashing, tethering, tying, arresting, braking, delaying, retaining, retarding, barricading, blockading, roadblocking, bogging (down), miring, smothering, stifling, strangling, suffocating, baffling, foiling, frustrating, stumping

Near Antonyms of Obstructing

making way, opening, liberating, releasing, untying, loosening, smoothing, encouraging, furthering, promoting, excavating, hollowing (out), scooping (out), emptying, lightening

Word Forms of Obstructing

Inflections: obstructed, obstructs

Derived words: obstructive (adjective or noun), obstructiveness (noun), obstructor (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Obstructing

Latin obstructus, past participle of obstruere, from ob- in the way + struere to build, heap up ob-, strew

First known use: 1590

Frequently Asked Questions about Obstructing

What does "Obstructing" mean?

"Obstructing" means to block or close up by an obstacle. As a verb, it is defined as: to block or close up by an obstacle. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Obstructing"?

Other words for "Obstructing" include clogging, cramping, embarrassing, encumbering, fettering, hampering, handcuffing and handicapping. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Obstructing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Obstructing"?

There are 90 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Obstructing". Common alternatives include clogging, cramping, embarrassing, encumbering, fettering, hampering, handcuffing, handicapping, hindering and hobbling.

What is the opposite of "Obstructing"?

Antonyms of "Obstructing" include aiding, assisting, facilitating, helping, clearing, freeing, opening (up) and unblocking. Near antonyms include making way, opening, liberating and releasing.

How do you use "Obstructing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Obstructing" in a sentence: "this would go much faster if you would stop obstructing me with your constant interruptions"; "at the moment the city's only tunnel between downtown and the airport is obstructed by an overturned tanker truck".

Is "Obstructing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Obstructing" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Obstructing"?

"Obstructing" is pronounced /əb-ˈstrəkt/ and divided into syllables as ob·struct.

What is the origin of the word "Obstructing"?

"Obstructing" comes from Latin obstructus, past participle of obstruere, from ob- in the way + struere to build, heap up ob-, strew. First known use: 1590.