obstructed

/əbˈstrʌktɪd/

Say it: uhb-STRUK-tid

1. adjective Blocked with an obstacle, making movement or passage difficult or impossible.
The narrow country lane was obstructed by a fallen tree.
2. adjective Prevented or slowed down from making progress; hindered.
The investigation was obstructed by a lack of cooperation from key witnesses.
3. verb Past tense of obstruct: to have blocked or gotten in the way of something.
The delivery truck completely obstructed traffic for ten minutes.

📖 Seen in the wild

The view of the stage was obstructed by a large pillar.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ obstructed in a sentence

My view of the movie screen was obstructed by the person in front of me wearing a large hat.
He was charged with obstructing justice for allegedly hiding evidence.
In patients with asthma, the airways can become inflamed and obstructed.
The company's growth was obstructed by outdated regulations.
Emergency crews worked to clear the tracks, which were obstructed by the derailment.
The bill's passage through parliament was obstructed by a series of last-minute amendments.
We couldn't see the beautiful sunset because a new high-rise building obstructed the view from our balcony.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

blocked hindered impeded clogged hampered thwarted jammed barred

blocked · the most direct synonym, often suggesting a complete stoppage.

hindered · implies something is slowed down or made difficult, not necessarily stopped.

impeded · a more formal term for slowed or held back, often used for progress or movement.

clogged · specifically refers to a blockage caused by a thick mass of material, like in a pipe.

Opposites: clear, unobstructed, open, free, unimpeded

🌱 Where it comes from

The word comes from the Latin verb 'obstruere', meaning 'to build up against'. It's formed from 'ob' (against, in the way) and 'struere' (to build or pile up). So, to obstruct something is literally to build a barrier in its way.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

obstructed viewobstructed breathingobstructed justicepartially obstructedcompletely obstructed

"Obstructed" is a versatile word used for both physical blockages (an obstructed pipe) and figurative ones (obstructed progress). It is generally a more formal choice than "blocked" but is widely understood and used. Be careful not to confuse it with "abstruse," which sounds somewhat similar but means complex and difficult to understand.

Word family: obstruct, obstruction, obstructive, obstructor

💬 Quick answers

What does obstructed mean?

It means that something is blocked, clogged, or in the way, preventing passage or progress. This can be a physical blockage, like a blocked road, or a figurative one, like an obstructed investigation.

What is the difference between obstructed and hindered?

"Obstructed" usually implies a more significant or complete blockage that stops something. "Hindered" suggests that progress is slowed down or made more difficult but not necessarily stopped entirely.

Is obstructed a formal word?

It is a neutral word that is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. While you might say a drain is "clogged" in casual speech, "obstructed" is also perfectly common and often used in writing and professional settings.

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