impede
verb
im·pede im-ˈpēd 
impeded; impeding
transitive verb
: to interfere with or slow the progress of
impeder noun
Synonyms
- clog
- cramp
- embarrass
- encumber
- fetter
- hamper
- handcuff
- handicap
- hinder
- hobble
- hog-tie
- hold back
- hold up
- inhibit
- interfere (with)
- manacle
- obstruct
- shackle
- short-circuit
- stymie
- tie up
- trammel
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He claims that economic growth is being impeded by government regulations. The soldiers could not impede the enemy's advance.
Recent Examples on the Web At the top of the list was an executive grant of clemency for Roger Stone, a longtime Trump friend and political adviser who was convicted by a jury of seeking to impede a congressional investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. 
Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 At the top of the list was an executive grant of clemency for Roger Stone, a longtime Trump friend and political adviser who was convicted by a jury of seeking to impede a congressional investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2022 Ruffer’s concern is that the loss of reserves will impede the banks’ willingness to take risks. James Mackintosh, WSJ, 3 Sep. 2022 Planned Parenthood objected, saying that doing so might impede access by forcing people to pay out of pocket. New York Times, 11 July 2022 This can ensure the dynamic nature of creating, storing and sharing data doesn't impede the end-users' workflow. Mike Quinn, Forbes, 15 July 2022 There was an attempt, a successful attempt, to block the transfer of power, to impede Congress in the joint session counting Electoral College votes, and then the effort to get Pence to declare these absurd powers to unilaterally reject electors. NBC News, 19 June 2022 Here’s something else experts are sure of: The best way to impede the virus and protect yourself from its worst effects is to get vaccinated and boosted. Karen Kaplanscience And Medicine Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2022 More recently, the Coastal Commission entered the fray, saying the barrier would impede public access, and that the project should require environmental mitigation. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2022 See More
Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 At the top of the list was an executive grant of clemency for Roger Stone, a longtime Trump friend and political adviser who was convicted by a jury of seeking to impede a congressional investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2022 Ruffer’s concern is that the loss of reserves will impede the banks’ willingness to take risks. James Mackintosh, WSJ, 3 Sep. 2022 Planned Parenthood objected, saying that doing so might impede access by forcing people to pay out of pocket. New York Times, 11 July 2022 This can ensure the dynamic nature of creating, storing and sharing data doesn't impede the end-users' workflow. Mike Quinn, Forbes, 15 July 2022 There was an attempt, a successful attempt, to block the transfer of power, to impede Congress in the joint session counting Electoral College votes, and then the effort to get Pence to declare these absurd powers to unilaterally reject electors. NBC News, 19 June 2022 Here’s something else experts are sure of: The best way to impede the virus and protect yourself from its worst effects is to get vaccinated and boosted. Karen Kaplanscience And Medicine Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2022 More recently, the Coastal Commission entered the fray, saying the barrier would impede public access, and that the project should require environmental mitigation. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin impedire, from in- + ped-, pes foot — more at foot
First Known Use
circa 1595, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
impede
verb
im·pede im-ˈpēd
impeded; impeding
: to interfere with the movement or progress of A snowstorm impeded his journey.
impede
verb
as in to hinder
to create difficulty for the work or activity of the construction work impeded the smooth running of the office for several months Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hinder
- hamper
- obstruct
- embarrass
- inhibit
- stymie
- handicap
- delay
- disrupt
- block
- restrain
- encumber
- constrain
- cramp
- hobble
- clog
- thwart
- tie up
- fetter
- frustrate
- shackle
- handcuff
- short-circuit
- trammel
- hold back
- stifle
- curb
- hog-tie
- interfere (with)
- give a hard time
- rein
- cramp one's style
- retard
- tie
- manacle
- bind
- retain
- brake
- balk
- derail
- check
- sabotage
- arrest
- strangle
- chain
- tether
- roadblock
- barricade
- hold up
- confine
- baffle
- blockade
- leash
- halter
- choke
- smother
- foil
- suffocate
- repress
- muzzle
- mire
- stump
- suppress
- bog (down)
- hedge (in)
- hem (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- facilitate
- help
- assist
- aid
- open
- liberate
- clear
- promote
- encourage
- make way
- release
- loosen
- free
- unclog
- smooth
- further
- unplug
- unstop
- untie
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of impede are block, hinder, and obstruct. While all these words mean "to interfere with the activity or progress of," impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering.
tight clothing that impedes movement
The meanings of block and impede largely overlap; however, block implies complete obstruction to passage or progress.
a landslide blocked the road
The synonyms hinder and impede are sometimes interchangeable, but hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress.
rain hindered the climb
In some situations, the words obstruct and impede are roughly equivalent. However, obstruct implies interfering with something in motion or in progress by the sometimes intentional placing of obstacles in the way.
the view was obstructed by billboards
- probability distribution
- probability function
- probabilize
- probable
- probable cause
- probable error
- probable word
- probabler
- probables
- probablest
- probablier
- probabliest
- probably
- proband
- probands
- probangs
- probasidium
- probata
- probate
- probate bond
- probate court
- probate duty
- probate homestead
- probated
- probates