despite the obstructions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite the obstructions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is happening or being achieved regardless of the obstacles or difficulties present. Example: "Despite the obstructions, the team managed to complete the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The culture of campus misogyny combines with a toxic world of online comment when Karen is raped by a football star, Smith, and refuses to back down despite the obstructions of the police, the timid university authorities and a swell of public opinion arguing that his budding football career is of primary importance.

The Guardian

Perhaps Wall Street's lobbyists can be resisted, sufficient to produce real reform, parallel to the sausage-making process that looks likely to yield real reform in healthcare, despite the obstructions of health-industry lobbyists.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The ball followed him over the line, and despite the obstruction on the goalkeeper, the referee awarded Loughborough a goal.

Wikipedia

It was necessary to snare leads from the femoral venous approach in two cases following unsuccessful laser extraction when the lead fragmented despite the obstruction being crossed.

Europace

In fact the obstructions had multiplied.

The New York Times - Food

Needles are inserted to clear the obstructions.

The Guardian

The obstructions have been evident for years.

The New York Times

But the obstructions kept coming.

Vice

When they met obstructions they complained and the obstructions were removed.

Huffington Post

The most distal portion of the obstruction must be resected completely despite the difficulty in exposing the distal part of the LV cavity [ 10].

European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery

As to the criticism of a broken State, Belgium, despite its religious, linguistic and political differences, works better than the obstruction of the U.S. democracy.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite the obstructions", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what was achieved or happened in spite of these obstructions. This enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "despite the obstructions" when the obstructions are actually the cause of failure. This phrase implies success achieved in spite of hindrances, not failure because of them.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the obstructions" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates a contrast or concession, showing that an action or event occurred regardless of existing hindrances. Ludwig AI examples demonstrate its use in various contexts to highlight resilience or persistence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite the obstructions" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that something occurs or is achieved even when faced with obstacles. Ludwig AI confirms that. It is found in various contexts, including news, science, and general writing, with a neutral register. While not exceedingly common, its usage is appropriate when highlighting resilience or unexpected outcomes in the face of challenges. Alternatives such as "in spite of the obstacles" or "regardless of the barriers" can provide stylistic variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

despite the challenges

Uses 'challenges' as a more general term for difficulties or obstructions.

in spite of the obstacles

Replaces 'despite' with 'in spite of', offering a slightly more emphatic tone.

regardless of the barriers

Substitutes 'obstructions' with 'barriers', emphasizing the restrictive nature of the obstacles.

irrespective of the obstacles

Similar to 'regardless of', but perhaps slightly more formal.

notwithstanding the impediments

Uses more formal vocabulary ('notwithstanding' and 'impediments') for a more sophisticated tone.

withstanding the roadblocks

Uses 'roadblocks' as a more concrete metaphor for obstructions.

even with the hindrances

Emphasizes that something occurs 'even with' the specified difficulties.

even given the difficulties

Emphasizes that the result was achieved 'even given' certain known difficulties.

against all odds

Expresses that something succeeded 'against' improbably difficult conditions.

in the face of adversity

Highlights the 'adversity' faced when overcoming challenges.

FAQs

How can I use "despite the obstructions" in a sentence?

Use "despite the obstructions" to indicate that something was achieved or occurred even though there were obstacles in the way. For example: "Despite the obstructions, the project was completed on time".

What are some alternatives to "despite the obstructions"?

Alternatives include "in spite of the obstacles", "regardless of the barriers", or "notwithstanding the impediments".

Is "despite the obstructions" formal or informal?

"Despite the obstructions" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary.

What's the difference between "despite the obstructions" and "because of the obstructions"?

"Despite the obstructions" implies that something succeeded in spite of the obstacles, whereas "because of the obstructions" implies that something failed or was hindered due to the obstacles.