Word: obstruct

Associations

"Obstruct" means to block or prevent something from happening. Think of it as putting a barrier in the way.

• Example 1: "The fallen tree obstructed the road." (The tree is blocking the path, making it hard to drive.)
• Example 2: "He tried to obstruct the investigation." (He attempted to stop or interfere with the investigation process.)
• Example 3: "Clouds can obstruct the view of the stars." (The clouds are hiding the stars, making them difficult to see.)

A well-known synonym for 'obstruct' is 'hinder.' The main difference is that 'obstruct' suggests a more complete blocking, while 'hinder' implies slowing down or making things more difficult but not completely stopping them.

Substitution

In place of 'obstruct,' you could use:

• Block: more forceful than obstruct, suggests complete closure.
• Prevent: emphasizes stopping something from occurring.
• Hinder: means to make something more difficult but not to completely stop it.

Deconstruction

The word "obstruct" comes from the Latin root "obstruere," which means "to build against."

• The prefix "ob-" means "against."
• The root "struere" means "to build." So, it literally means to "build against" or "block."

Understanding its origin helps us see how it relates to blocking or preventing growth or progress.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when something obstructed your plans? What happened?
• In what ways might a person try to obstruct progress in a group project?
• How could you use the word "obstruct" in a different context, perhaps with a positive or negative angle?