roadblock

10 synonyms for roadblock, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A barrier set up across a road, often by police or the military, to stop or check traffic.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

bar

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

barrier hitch hurdle obstruction obstacle

Rare, literary or technical

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

barricade encumbrance impediment hindrance

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A barrier set up across a road, often by police or the military, to stop or check traffic.

“Police set up a roadblock after the robbery to check every car leaving town.”

barrier barricade

2. noun

Something that gets in the way of progress; an obstacle.

“Lack of funding became the biggest roadblock to finishing the project.”

bar hitch encumbrance impediment hurdle obstruction hindrance obstacle

How to use roadblock

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

hit a roadblock set up a roadblock legal roadblock

Etymology

A straightforward compound of "road" + "block," first used for physical traffic barriers before being extended to mean any obstacle.

Full origin of roadblock →

Frequently asked questions

What does “roadblock” mean?

The word “roadblock” means a barrier set up across a road, often by police or the military, to stop or check traffic. In plain terms, a barrier stopping traffic, or more generally, anything blocking progress.

How do you use “roadblock” in a sentence?

Here is “roadblock” used in a sentence: “Police set up a roadblock after the robbery to check every car leaving town.”

What part of speech is “roadblock”?

“Roadblock” is a noun.

How many meanings does “roadblock” have?

“Roadblock” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a barrier set up across a road, often by police or the military, to stop or check traffic.

People also searched

bar barrier obstacle obstruction hitch hurdle impediment encumbrance barricade hindrance

Nearby words

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