Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- transitive verb To block or fill (a passage or opening) with obstacles or an obstacle.
- transitive verb To impede, retard, or interfere with; hinder: synonym: hinder.
- transitive verb To be or get in the way of (a view or something to be seen). synonym: block.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To block up; stop up or close, as a way or passage; fill with obstacles or impediments that prevent passing.
- To hinder from passing; stop; impede in any way; check.
- To retard; interrupt; delay: as, progress is often obstructed by difficulties, though not entirely stopped.
- Synonyms To bar, barricade, blockade, arrest, clog, choke, dam up, embarrass, See
obstacle . - noun An obstruction.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To block up; to stop up or close, as a way or passage; to place an obstacle in, or fill with obstacles or impediments that prevent or hinder passing
- transitive verb To be, or come, in the way of; to hinder from passing; to stop; to impede; to retard
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb To block or fill (a passage) with obstacles or an obstacle. See Synonyms at
block . - verb To impede, retard, or interfere with;
hinder : obstructed my progress. - verb To get in the way of so as to hide from sight.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
- verb shut out from view or get in the way so as to hide from sight
- verb block passage through
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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Obviously, the Republicans 'desire to obstruct is not based on concerns about qualifications, or, in some cases, even ideology.
Nan Aron: Republican Obstruction is Holding the Judicial System Hostage Nan Aron 2010
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And the only reason why the Republican Party has been able to obstruct is because of the filibuster (more accurately, Senate rules, but close enough.).
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The first thing they do after getting back the full power to obstruct is Shelby shaking down Obama for billions?
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But he goes on, — “The apostle advanceth towards his proposed end, and adds, ‘Those whom he called, them he also justified,’ or decreed to justify, in case the called obstruct him not in his way, or by their unbelief render not themselves incapable of justification.”
The Doctrine of the Saints��� Perseverance Explained and Confirmed 1616-1683 1966
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The apostle advanceth towards his proposed end, and addeth, ‘Those whom he called, them he also justified;’ that is, according to our last exposition of the word ‘called,’ he hath purposed or decreed to justify, — to wit, in case the called obstruct him not in his way, or by their unbelief render not themselves incapable of justification.
The Doctrine of the Saints��� Perseverance Explained and Confirmed 1616-1683 1966
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“Tory leader David Cameron has warned the SNP not to "obstruct" a replacement for the Trident missile system if his party wins the next election”
Sunday Morning Update:BBC, Bercow and blunders Thatsnews 2009
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They offer no alternatives, no workable plans and in a time of crisis they linger, allowing more destruction and disaster to take place against the will of the majority for purely political reasons ... to "obstruct" implementing any real change.
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“Tory leader David Cameron has warned the SNP not to "obstruct" a replacement for the Trident missile system if his party wins the next election”
Archive 2009-06-01 Thatsnews 2009
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What does an opposition party do exactly if it doesn't "obstruct" a weak and unpopular President from shoving extremist legislation down the country's collective throat?
Archive 2006-09-01 Glenn Greenwald 2006
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What does an opposition party do exactly if it doesn't "obstruct" a weak and unpopular President from shoving extremist legislation down the country's collective throat?
Weapons for stopping the Specter bill Glenn Greenwald 2006
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