Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun obstacle

2 senses of obstacle

Sense 1
obstacle, obstruction -- (something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted; "lack of imagination is an obstacle to one's advancement"; "the poverty of a district is an obstacle to good education"; "the filibuster was a major obstruction to the success of their plan")
       => hindrance, hinderance, deterrent, impediment, balk, baulk, check, handicap -- (something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress)

Sense 2
obstacle -- (an obstruction that stands in the way (and must be removed or surmounted or circumvented))
       => obstruction, obstructor, obstructer, impediment, impedimenta -- (any structure that makes progress difficult)