English > impediment: 2 senses > noun 1, cognition| Meaning | Something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress. |
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| Synonyms | hindrance, hinderance, deterrent, balk, baulk, check, handicap |
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| Narrower | albatross, millstone | (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps |
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| bind | Something that hinders as if with bonds |
| diriment impediment | (canon law) an impediment that invalidates a marriage (such as the existence of a prior marriage) |
| drag | Something that slows or delays progress |
| obstacle, obstruction | Something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted |
| straitjacket | Anything immaterial that severely hinders or confines |
| Broader | difficulty | A factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result |
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| Spanish | estorbo, freno, impedimento, obstáculo |
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| Catalan | força dissuasiva, fre, impediment, nosa, obstacle |
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| Verbs | impede | be a hindrance or obstacle to |
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English > impediment: 2 senses > noun 2, artifact| Meaning | Any structure that makes progress difficult. |
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| Synonyms | obstruction, obstructor, obstructer, impedimenta |
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| Narrower | bar | An obstruction (usually metal) placed at the top of a goal |
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| barrier | A structure or object that impedes free movement |
| blockade | prevents access or progress |
| blockage, block, closure, occlusion, stop, stoppage | An obstruction in a pipe or tube |
| hindrance, hinderance, hitch, preventive, preventative, encumbrance, incumbrance, interference | Any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome |
| obstacle | An obstruction that stands in the way (and must be removed or surmounted or circumvented) |
| tumbler | A movable obstruction in a lock that must be adjusted to a given position (as by a key) before the bolt can be thrown |
| Broader | structure, construction | A thing constructed |
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| Spanish | impedimento, obstáculo, obstrucción |
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| Catalan | impediment, obstacle, obstrucció |
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| Verbs | impede | block passage through |
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