a widespread obstruction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a widespread obstruction" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is a significant or extensive blockage or hindrance affecting a large area or group. Example: "The heavy snowfall caused a widespread obstruction on the highways, making travel nearly impossible."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Soviet troops were apparently bogged down by widespread obstruction today, including airfield and railroad blockades, sabotage, hostage-taking and civil disobedience, as they tried to control the violence in Azerbaijan.

The New York Times

With reference to the forward half-space, the scattered field is always strongly attenuated due to the high obstruction loss, and a widespread spatial distribution of the scattered power can be noticed in presence of evident volume unhomogeneities.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Despite successful removal of residual stenosis in the descending aorta (AoD), hypertension is still present in 30 50% of patients, which suggests that CoAo might not be the simple mechanical obstruction of the main artery but more likely a widespread anomaly of the cardiovascular system [ 3, 4, 8, 10, 11].

Clinical Research in Cardiology

Displacement is a widespread practice.

The New York Times

A widespread search began.

The Washington Post

It is winning a widespread hearing.

The Economist

This is a widespread practice.Unwinding.

The Economist

A widespread strike is affecting transport systems.

The Economist

It is a widespread sense.

The Guardian

While the obstructions of acculturation, prohibition and applicability answer directly to the disconnect between environmental knowledge and practice, they are but small pieces materializing out of a widespread societal shift with yet unknown ramifications.

Pastoralism

Hansen believes diving is a widespread problem.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a widespread obstruction", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being obstructed and the extent of the obstruction. Provide specific details to enhance clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a widespread obstruction" without specifying the area or system affected. Be specific about what is obstructed and the consequences to avoid vagueness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a widespread obstruction" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "widespread" modifies the noun "obstruction". It identifies a state of being blocked or hindered on a large scale. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a widespread obstruction" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a large-scale blockage or hindrance. As confirmed by Ludwig, the expression is perfectly valid. While examples are currently limited, its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts. Related phrases include "a general impediment" and "a common blockage". When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what is being obstructed and the extent of the obstruction to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a general impediment

Replaces 'obstruction' with 'impediment' and 'widespread' with 'general', focusing on the hindering aspect.

a broad-scale impediment

Replaces 'widespread' with 'broad-scale', suggesting a wide reach of the impediment.

an extensive blockage

Uses 'extensive' to indicate the large scope of the blockage.

a sweeping obstruction

Suggests a wide-ranging or comprehensive obstruction.

a common blockage

Substitutes 'widespread' with 'common' and 'obstruction' with 'blockage', emphasizing the blocking action and its prevalence.

a prevalent hindrance

Uses 'prevalent' instead of 'widespread' and 'hindrance' instead of 'obstruction', highlighting the common and impeding nature.

a far-reaching obstacle

Emphasizes the broad impact of the obstacle.

a pervasive obstacle

Highlights the way the obstacle spreads throughout.

a ubiquitous barrier

Indicates that the barrier is present everywhere or is very common.

a universal impediment

Implies that the impediment affects everyone or everything.

FAQs

How can "a widespread obstruction" be used in a sentence?

Use "a widespread obstruction" to describe a blockage or impediment affecting a large area or group. For example, "The strike caused a widespread obstruction to the transportation system".

What are some alternatives to "a widespread obstruction"?

Alternatives include "a general impediment", "a common blockage", or "a prevalent hindrance", depending on the specific context.

What does "a widespread obstruction" typically refer to?

It usually refers to a significant blockage or hindrance that affects a large area, system, or group of people, impacting normal operations or progress.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "a widespread obstruction"?

This phrase is suitable in contexts where you need to describe a large-scale blockage or impediment, such as in discussions about infrastructure, systems, or processes facing significant hindrances.