Definitions
- Referring to an action or situation that slows down or delays progress. - Describing something that makes it difficult to achieve a goal or complete a task. - Talking about an obstacle that prevents someone from doing something.
- Referring to something that blocks or gets in the way of a path, view, or process. - Describing an action that prevents someone from doing something. - Talking about a barrier that hinders progress or movement.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe something that gets in the way of progress or movement.
- 2Both words can be used to refer to physical or non-physical barriers.
- 3Both words imply a negative impact on achieving a goal or completing a task.
What is the difference?
- 1Usage: Hinder is more commonly used in everyday language than obstruct.
- 2Intensity: Obstruct implies a stronger and more deliberate act of blocking or preventing than hinder.
- 3Focus: Hinder emphasizes the effect on progress or achievement, while obstruct emphasizes the physical or non-physical barrier itself.
- 4Connotation: Hinder has a more neutral connotation, while obstruct can have a negative or even confrontational connotation.
- 5Formality: Obstruct is more formal and often used in legal or technical contexts, while hinder is more versatile and can be used in various formality levels.
Remember this!
Hinder and obstruct are synonyms that describe something that gets in the way of progress or movement. However, obstruct implies a stronger and more deliberate act of blocking or preventing, while hinder is more neutral and emphasizes the effect on progress or achievement. Additionally, obstruct is more formal and often used in legal or technical contexts, while hinder is more versatile and can be used in various formality levels.
