impediment

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. hindrance, obstacle.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [Something that impedes]

Syn. hindrance, obstacle, obstruction, barrier, block, bar, clog, stop, encumbrance, difficulty, check, retardation, stoppage, restriction, stricture, restraint, blockage, prohibition, inhibition, hurdle, wall, barricade, trammel, shackle, handicap, disability, disadvantage, deterrent, detriment, delay, traffic hazard, traffic jam, manacle, chain, tie, hitch, snag, setback, drag, burden, load, dead weight, drawback, stumbling block, fault, flaw, rub, roadblock*, holdup*, catch-22*, catch*, cramp*, bottleneck*, gridlock*, millstone around one's neck*, red tape*, monkey wrench in the machinery*, crimp*, joker*; see also barrier .

Ant. help*, aid, assistance.

2. [An obstruction in speech]

Syn. speech impediment, speech defect, speech disorder, difficulty, block, stutter, stuttering, stammer, stammering, lisp, lisping, lallation, lambdacism, halting, hairlip, cleft palate, aphAsia, dysphAsia.

Syn.- impediment applies to anything that delays or retards progress by interfering with normal action [ a speech impediment] ; obstruction refers to anything that blocks progress or some activity as if by stopping up a passage [ your interference is an obstruction of justice ] ; hindrance applies to anything that thwarts progress by holding back or delaying [ lack of supplies is the greatest hindrance to my experiment ] ; obstacle is used of anything that literally or figuratively stands in the way of one's progress [ her father's opposition remained their only obstacle] ; barrier applies to any apparently insurmountable obstacle that prevents progress or access or keeps separate and apart [ cultural differences are often a barrier to understanding ]

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

barrier, obstacle, hindrance, block, stumbling block, obstruction, restriction, bar, check, holdup, delay, deterrent.

ANT.: help, advancement, aid

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun Something that impedes or prevents entry or passage: bar, barricade, barrier, block, blockage, clog, hamper, hindrance, hurdle, obstacle, obstruction, snag, stop, traverse, wall. See HELP, OPEN.