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GRE vocabulary

impede

verbHigh-frequency wordMore I words

to slow or obstruct the progress of

Word origin: From Latin impedire, to entangle the feet, from in, plus pes, foot.

In a sentence

Impede in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing impede in a sentence.

Heavy snowfall impeded the rescue team's progress up the mountain.

Bureaucratic delays impeded the relief effort just when speed mattered most.

Synonyms
hinderobstructhamperblock
Antonyms
facilitateadvance
Usage & nuance

Using “impede” well

Impede means to slow or obstruct progress without necessarily stopping it entirely. It is milder than to halt, suggesting hindrance and friction rather than a full stop.

Common questions

Questions about “impede

Impede (verb) means to slow or obstruct the progress of
Here is impede used in an example sentence: "Heavy snowfall impeded the rescue team's progress up the mountain." Another example: "Bureaucratic delays impeded the relief effort just when speed mattered most."
Common synonyms for impede include hinder, obstruct, hamper, block.
Antonyms of impede include facilitate, advance.
Clusters with hinder, obstruct, and hamper, opposed by facilitate and advance. The antonym facilitate is the GRE's key contrast, marking impede as putting obstacles in the way.
Yes. Impede is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

Learn words the way the GRE tests them.

Vocabulary sticks when you meet it in real sentences. Practise these words inside text completion and sentence equivalence questions.