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impediment

12 synonyms and 5 antonyms for impediment, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — Something that blocks or slows progress.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

baulk hindrance obstructer balk impedimenta obstructor hinderance

Antonyms

How to use impediment

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

speech impediment legal impediment major impediment

Etymology

From Latin impedimentum, related to impede.

Full origin of impediment →

Frequently asked questions

What does “impediment” mean?
The word “impediment” means something that blocks or slows progress. In plain terms, an obstacle — something in the way of progress, or a specific difficulty with speech or hearing.
How do you pronounce “impediment”?
“Impediment” is pronounced ihm-PEH-dih-muhnt (/ɪmˈpɛdɪmənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “impediment” in a sentence?
Here is “impediment” used in a sentence: “Lack of funding was the biggest impediment to the project.”
What is another word for “impediment”?
Words with a similar meaning to “impediment” include hindrance, obstruction and obstacle.
What part of speech is “impediment”?
“Impediment” is a noun.
Where does the word “impediment” come from?
The word “impediment” comes from Latin. From Latin impedimentum, related to impede.
Is “impediment” a common word?
“Impediment” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “impediment” have?
“Impediment” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: something that blocks or slows progress.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.