hinder

/ˈhɪndər/

Say it: HIN-der

1. verb To create difficulties for someone or something, resulting in delay or obstruction.
A lack of funding will hinder the project's progress.
2. adjective Situated at the back; posterior.
The horse injured one of its hinder legs.

📖 Seen in the wild

Heavy snow continued to hinder rescue efforts in the remote mountain region.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ hinder in a sentence

Protesters blocked the main road, hindering access to the city center.
His old-fashioned views hindered his ability to adapt to the new management style.
Poor nutrition can hinder a child's physical and cognitive development.
I try not to let my personal problems hinder my work performance.
The dense fog hindered the ship's passage through the narrow channel.
The investigation was hindered by a lack of reliable witnesses.
Don't let fear of failure hinder you from trying new things.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

impede obstruct hamper inhibit thwart stymie delay encumber

impede · suggests slowing progress by creating obstacles, often used in formal or technical contexts.

obstruct · implies a more direct and complete blockage, making movement or progress very difficult or impossible.

hamper · often suggests being weighed down or restrained, as if by a physical burden.

inhibit · typically refers to holding back actions or processes, often due to internal factors like fear or chemical reactions.

Opposites: facilitate, help, aid, assist, promote

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'hinder' comes from the Old English 'hindrian', meaning to check or injure. This verb is related to the Old English adverb 'hinder', meaning 'behind'. The connection is logical: to hinder something is to hold it back or make it fall behind.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

hinder progresshinder developmenthinder the investigationseverely hinderhinder efforts to

Hinder implies slowing or complicating something, not stopping it completely. For a full stop, use 'prevent'. For example, bad weather can hinder a rescue mission (make it slower), but a hurricane might prevent it (make it impossible). The adjective form, 'hinder', meaning 'at the back', is now rare and mostly found in older texts or specific anatomical terms like 'hinder legs'.

Word family: hindrance

💬 Quick answers

What does 'hinder' mean?

To hinder something means to make it more difficult or to slow it down. It implies an obstacle or delay rather than a complete stop.

What is the difference between 'hinder' and 'prevent'?

To hinder something is to slow its progress, while to prevent something is to stop it from happening at all. Heavy traffic might hinder your arrival, but a closed bridge would prevent it.

Is 'hinder' a formal word?

Hinder is a neutral word that is perfectly at home in both formal and everyday contexts. It is common in professional, academic, and general writing.

What is a 'hindrance'?

A hindrance is the noun form of hinder. It is a person or thing that makes a situation difficult or causes a delay, like a constant interruption being a hindrance to concentration.

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