hinder

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "hinder" is correct and is used frequently in written English.
It is generally used as a verb and means to impede, obstruct, or slow down something/someone. Example sentence: The heavy rain hindered the construction crew's progress on the new bridge.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ryan Heath, a spokesman for the EU's digital commissioner, Neelie Kroes, said the internet tax was "bad in principle" and could hinder economic growth.

The Guardian

- Julia Bayne, co-founder of istanbul!place In our values-led business hub, we plan to explore the values that can define a business, as well as the structures, business models, tools, strategies, processes and performance metrics that can help and hinder businesses in creating and acting upon their values.

The Guardian

The problem is that this government is waking up rather late in its term of office to the infrastructure problems that hinder the private sector, as any visitor to the Midlands soon becomes aware.

The Guardian - Business

I obviously started well when we came back out today, so it didn't hinder me".

The Guardian - Sport

Unlike the Anglo-American model of the secular state, which seeks to hinder state interference in religious affairs, the French notion of laïcité actively blocks religious interference in affairs of state.

The Guardian

Cerf remains worried that the way we store digital content – as "bits of information" in the cloud – could hinder generations to come.

The Guardian

"The restaurant industry provides real pathways to the middle class and beyond, and dramatic increases in the minimum wage will only hinder our ability to provide stepping stones for those who need it most," the association said in a statement.

The Guardian - Business

In 18 months in office, the fiscal policy narrative has directly undermined business and consumer confidence as it has proposed policy settings that will hinder growth and add layers of complexity to business operations.

The Guardian

Luckily for United, it didn't hinder his performance.

The Guardian - Sport

"Because they are the same species they are very vulnerable to losing their pure genetics to domesticated chickens," he says, explaining that could not only hinder our study of the bird's domestication but also erode a useful genepool should the domesticated bird fall foul of disease.

The Guardian - Books

"I hope that the responsible figures in the Ukrainian leadership will not hinder soldiers in the Ukrainian army from putting down their weapons," the Russian president said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hinder" to describe a tangible or intangible obstacle that makes progress difficult.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "hinder" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "block" or "slow down" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hinder" is as a transitive verb. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes the action of making it difficult for someone or something to do something or for something to happen. Examples show it used with objects representing processes, people, or entities being impeded.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "hinder" is a versatile verb used to describe the act of impeding or obstructing something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and high frequency in written English, particularly in formal contexts such as news and business writing. While synonyms like "obstruct", "impede", and "hamper" offer similar meanings, "hinder" maintains a nuanced focus on making progress difficult. When writing, remember that while grammatically correct, "hinder" might sound too formal in casual settings. By understanding its function, purpose, and common usage patterns, you can effectively incorporate "hinder" into your writing to convey the idea of impediment with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obstruct

Direct synonym focusing on blocking progress or movement.

impede

Similar to hinder, but often suggests a slowing down or delaying effect.

hamper

Suggests making something difficult to do or achieve.

obstruct the progress of

More verbose, emphasizing the blocking of forward movement.

delay

Focuses specifically on causing something to happen later than planned.

inhibit

Implies restraining or preventing an action or process.

slow down

A more general term for reducing the speed of something.

curtail

Indicates reducing or restricting something.

thwart

Emphasizes preventing someone from accomplishing something.

set back

Suggests causing a delay in progress or development.

FAQs

How can I use "hinder" in a sentence?

You can use "hinder" to describe something that makes it difficult for someone or something to succeed or progress. For example, "The lack of funding will "hinder" the project's completion".

What can I say instead of "hinder"?

You can use alternatives like "obstruct", "impede", or "hamper" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "hinder" or "help" in a negative context?

While "hinder" directly implies obstruction, using "help" in a negative construction like "not help" can be a more subtle way of conveying that something is ineffective or even detrimental. For example, "This policy does not "help" the situation" implies it might actually "hinder" it.

What's the difference between "hinder" and "restrain"?

"Hinder" suggests making progress difficult, while "restrain" implies holding someone or something back from doing something they want to do. "Hinder" affects progress; "restrain" affects action.