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GRE vocabulary

impediment

nounHigh-frequency wordMore I words

a hindrance or obstacle that makes progress or movement difficult

Word origin: From Latin impedimentum, a hindrance, from impedire, to entangle the feet.

In a sentence

Impediment in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing impediment in a sentence.

His lack of formal credentials proved to be an impediment to advancing in the field.

A lack of reliable data proved the chief impediment to the study's conclusions.

Synonyms
obstaclebarrierhindrance
Antonyms
aidcatalystfacilitator
Usage & nuance

Using “impediment” well

An impediment is an obstacle that makes progress or movement difficult. It can be abstract, like a legal barrier, or concrete, and the term speech impediment names a physical difficulty in speaking.

Common questions

Questions about “impediment

Impediment (noun) means a hindrance or obstacle that makes progress or movement difficult
Here is impediment used in an example sentence: "His lack of formal credentials proved to be an impediment to advancing in the field." Another example: "A lack of reliable data proved the chief impediment to the study's conclusions."
Common synonyms for impediment include obstacle, barrier, hindrance.
Antonyms of impediment include aid, catalyst, facilitator.
Clusters with obstacle, barrier, and hindrance, opposed by aid, catalyst, and facilitator. It is the noun counterpart of impede, and the GRE pairs it against words for help such as catalyst.
Yes. Impediment is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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