What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hangup
Example
His fear of public speaking was a major hangup for him. [hangup: noun]
Example
She couldn't get over her hangup about germs and refused to touch anything in public places. [hangup: noun]
hindrance
Example
The lack of funding was a major hindrance to the project's completion. [hindrance: noun]
Example
The traffic jam was a hindrance to our plans for the day. [hindrance: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hindrance is more commonly used than hangup in everyday language. Hindrance is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while hangup is less common and tends to be used in more informal settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hangup and hindrance?
Hindrance is a more formal word than hangup, making it more appropriate for use in formal contexts such as academic writing or business communication. However, both words can be used in informal contexts depending on the situation.
