obstruct
verb
ob·struct
əb-ˈstrəkt 
äb-
obstructed; obstructing; obstructs
1
: to block or close up by an obstacle
A piece of food obstructed his airway.
The road was obstructed by a fallen tree.
2
: to hinder from passage, action, or operation : impede
Constant interruptions obstruct our progress.
was charged with obstructing justice by lying to investigators
3
: to cut off from sight
A wall obstructs the view.
obstructiveness
noun
Examples of obstruct in a Sentence
A large tree obstructed the road.
A piece of food obstructed his airway and caused him to stop breathing.
She was charged with obstructing police.
She was charged with obstructing justice by lying to investigators.
Recent Examples on the Web
Steer clear of puddles - Driving into puddles or low areas of rainwater can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control.
Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.
—
Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Burroughs was fired from the department and charged with making a false police report, obstructing justice, breaking and entering a motor vehicle and possession of heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2025
Diaz received just over six years in prison after pleading guilty to distributing painkillers and obstructing justice in a cooperation deal that also required his testimony at Carpman’s trial.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, 52, of Waukegan, Ill. has been charged with concealment of a death, abuse of a corpse and obstructing justice, per the Waukegan Police Department.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obstruct
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Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Burroughs was fired from the department and charged with making a false police report, obstructing justice, breaking and entering a motor vehicle and possession of heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2025
Diaz received just over six years in prison after pleading guilty to distributing painkillers and obstructing justice in a cooperation deal that also required his testimony at Carpman’s trial.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, 52, of Waukegan, Ill. has been charged with concealment of a death, abuse of a corpse and obstructing justice, per the Waukegan Police Department.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obstruct
Cite this Entry
“Obstruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstruct. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obstruct
verb
ob·struct
əb-ˈstrəkt
äb-
1
: to close up by an obstacle
a fallen tree obstructed the roadway
2
: to be or get in the way of : hinder
lying to the police obstructs justice
Medical Definition
obstruct
transitive verb
ob·struct
əb-ˈstrəkt, äb-
: to block or close up by an obstacle
veins obstructed by clots
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