obstruction
noun
ob·struc·tion
əb-ˈstrək-shən 
äb-
1
a
: the state of being obstructed
especially
: a condition of being clogged or blocked
an intestinal obstruction
She died from an obstruction of the airway.
b
: an act of obstructing
Passage of the law was delayed by the congressman's obstruction.
2
: something that obstructs
removing obstructions that block the path
a view without obstruction
Synonyms
Examples of obstruction in a Sentence
They are removing trees and other obstructions from the path.
cases of intestinal obstruction in children
She died from an obstruction of the airway.
He is on trial for the obstruction of a criminal investigation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Politics in Brief Supreme Court: Justices raised concerns about the Justice Department’s use of an obstruction statute to charge those involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
—
Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 17 Apr. 2024
Best of The Bee: Supreme Court might drop Jan. 6 obstruction charges.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 17 Apr. 2024
The justices were asked to interpret an obstruction law Congress approved after the Enron scandal in 2002.
—USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
In Fischer's case, however, a federal judge ruled that the obstruction statute was meant to apply to destruction of documents and records, not events like those on Jan 6.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024
Two of the four counts in the federal indictment against Trump involve the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and alleged conspiracy to obstruct and actual obstruction of an official proceeding.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2024
And although a number of the Florida charges, involving obstruction and making false statements, seem clear-cut, thirty-two counts rely on the Espionage Act, a statute with gray areas that have never been fully adjudicated by the Supreme Court, even without a former President as the defendant.
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2024
Scott Finkbeiner, the sheriff of Hot Spring County who was indicted on federal charges of obstruction of justice and misprision of a felony last November, was arrested again Wednesday on new charges.
—Daniel McFadin, arkansasonline.com, 12 Apr. 2024
Louisiana Father Arrested After House Fire Kills His 3 Children: 'Tragic and Senseless'
Washington, 30, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and one count of obstruction of justice Thursday, April 11.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 17 Apr. 2024
Best of The Bee: Supreme Court might drop Jan. 6 obstruction charges.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 17 Apr. 2024
The justices were asked to interpret an obstruction law Congress approved after the Enron scandal in 2002.
—USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
In Fischer's case, however, a federal judge ruled that the obstruction statute was meant to apply to destruction of documents and records, not events like those on Jan 6.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024
Two of the four counts in the federal indictment against Trump involve the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and alleged conspiracy to obstruct and actual obstruction of an official proceeding.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2024
And although a number of the Florida charges, involving obstruction and making false statements, seem clear-cut, thirty-two counts rely on the Espionage Act, a statute with gray areas that have never been fully adjudicated by the Supreme Court, even without a former President as the defendant.
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2024
Scott Finkbeiner, the sheriff of Hot Spring County who was indicted on federal charges of obstruction of justice and misprision of a felony last November, was arrested again Wednesday on new charges.
—Daniel McFadin, arkansasonline.com, 12 Apr. 2024
Louisiana Father Arrested After House Fire Kills His 3 Children: 'Tragic and Senseless'
Washington, 30, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and one count of obstruction of justice Thursday, April 11.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obstruction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near obstruction
Cite this Entry
“Obstruction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstruction. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obstruction
noun
ob·struc·tion
əb-ˈstrək-shən
äb-
1
: an act of obstructing : the state of being obstructed
2
: something that gets in the way : obstacle
Medical Definition
obstruction
noun
ob·struc·tion
əb-ˈstrək-shən, äb-
1
a
: an act of obstructing
b
: a condition of being clogged or blocked
intestinal obstruction
2
: something that obstructs
dislodge an airway obstruction
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