obstruct

/əbˈstrʌkt/

/əbˈstrʌkt/

Other forms: obstructed; obstructing; obstructs

When you obstruct something, you block it. If you’re gobbling down your pizza, a chunk of crust you didn’t chew so well might obstruct your airway and you'll choke.

Obstruct also means to get in the way so that you hide something from view. That fast food tower being built next to your beach house will obstruct your lovely ocean vistas. And that scene gives you a vivid illustration of the Latin roots the word comes from: ob- "against," and struere, "build." You can also obstruct something or someone by putting up a roadblock, literal or figurative: when you park yourself by the exit door, you obstruct everybody's way out.

Definitions of obstruct

1. verb

   block passage through
   “obstruct the path”

   synonyms: block, close up, impede, jam, obturate, occlude

   antonyms:

   free

   free or remove obstruction from

   types:

   block off, blockade

   obstruct access to

   barricade, barricado

   block off with barricades

   barricade

   prevent access to by barricading

   asphyxiate, choke, stifle, suffocate

   impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of

   tie up

   restrain from moving or operating normally

   dam, dam up

   obstruct with, or as if with, a dam

   block out, screen

   prevent from entering

   earth up, land up

   block with earth, as after a landslide

   bar, barricade, block, block off, block up, blockade, stop

   render unsuitable for passage

   back up, choke, choke off, clog, clog up, congest, foul

   become or cause to become obstructed

   gum up

   stick together as if with gum

   block off, close off, shut off

   block off the passage through

   shade

   protect from light, heat, or view

   close

   bar access to

   crap up

   become obstructed or chocked up

   block, choke up, lug, stuff

   obstruct

   silt, silt up

   become chocked with silt

   type of:

   hinder, impede

   be a hindrance or obstacle to
2. verb

   hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
   synonyms: block, blockade, embarrass, hinder, stymie, stymy

   types:

   stonewall

   obstruct or hinder any discussion

   filibuster

   obstruct deliberately by delaying

   check

   block or impede (a player from the opposing team) in ice hockey

   hang

   prevent from reaching a verdict, of a jury

   bottleneck

   slow down or impede by creating an obstruction

   type of:

   forbid, foreclose, forestall, preclude, preempt, prevent

   keep from happening or arising; make impossible
3. verb

   shut out from view or get in the way so as to hide from sight
   “The trees obstruct my view of the mountains”

   synonyms: block

   bar, barricade, block, block off, block up, blockade, stop

   render unsuitable for passage

   type of:

   conceal, hide

   prevent from being seen or discovered