obstruct advancement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obstruct advancement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to describe actions or situations that hinder progress or development. Example: "The new regulations may obstruct advancement in the technology sector, making it difficult for startups to thrive."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

For observant Hindus, hurting or harming another being damages one's karma and obstructs advancement toward moksha -- liberation.

HuffPost

For observant Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, hurting or harming another being damages one's karma and obstructs advancement toward moksha (liberation).

Huffington Post

A locked-in product may obstruct technological advancement.

Harvard Business Review

It found that social and structural barriers continue to obstruct the advancement of female members of Generation X and millennials.

Los Angeles Times

Perhaps a similar diversity in languages and cultures promotes instead of obstructs scientific advancement [ 4].

Critical Care

However, there are a range of issues that raise concern about whether this approach is actually furthering or instead obstructing the advancement of health psychology theories and the quality of health behaviour change interventions.

Health Psychology Review

However, the novel also depicts Bolívar as an idealist and political theorist who predicted many problems that would obstruct Latin American advancement in the future.

Wikipedia

He blames Cyprus for obstructing progress.

The Economist

Women already serve in combat, although often that service is not officially recognized, which can obstruct these women's professional advancement or access to benefits.

Huffington Post

Additionally, Marcos extended the tenure of high-ranking officers loyal to him, thus, obstructing the promotion ladder for professional advancement (The Davide Fact-Finding Commission 1990).

Bandung: Journal of the Global South

There may be another case where Rubio successfully obstructed a fellow Cuban American from advancement, and a Republican at that.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing systemic issues, use "obstruct advancement" to highlight how certain policies or practices create barriers to progress for specific groups.

Common error

Avoid using "obstruct advancement" in contexts where simple delay is meant. "Obstruct" carries a heavier connotation of intentional hindrance or significant impediment, so "delay" or "slow" might be more appropriate if the setback is minor or unintentional.

Linguistic Context

"Obstruct advancement" functions as a verb phrase that describes an action that impedes or prevents progress. It is used to indicate that something is hindering the forward movement or development in a particular area. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "obstruct advancement" is grammatically sound and serves to describe the act of hindering progress or development. While Ludwig AI confirms the validity of the phrase, it appears to be infrequently used, given the limited number of examples found. When using "obstruct advancement", it is crucial to consider its connotation of intentional hindrance and to ensure it accurately reflects the context. Related phrases such as "impede progress" and "hinder development" offer alternative ways to express similar meanings with varying degrees of formality. Using "obstruct advancement" is particularly apt when discussing systemic barriers that prevent progress for specific groups.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impede progress

Replaces "advancement" with "progress", focusing on the overall forward movement.

hinder development

Substitutes "obstruct" with "hinder" and "advancement" with "development", emphasizing growth.

block progress

Uses "block" instead of "obstruct", suggesting a complete halt.

inhibit progress

Employs "inhibit", indicating a restraining effect on advancement.

impede development

Uses "impede" to suggest slowing down or making development difficult.

thwart progress

Replaces "obstruct" with "thwart", suggesting a forceful prevention of advancement.

hamper progress

Uses "hamper" to convey making progress more difficult.

delay progress

Focuses on the temporal aspect of hindering advancement.

retard advancement

Uses "retard", emphasizing the slowing down of advancement.

stifle progress

Replaces "obstruct" with "stifle", suggesting the suppression of progress.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "obstruct advancement" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "impede progress" or "hinder development". These alternatives maintain a professional and sophisticated tone.

What's a more direct synonym for "obstruct advancement"?

A more direct synonym would be "block progress", which conveys a complete halt to advancement. However, use it with caution, as it can sound more aggressive.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "obstruct advancement"?

Use "obstruct advancement" when describing deliberate or systemic actions that prevent progress, especially in areas like career growth, technological development, or social change. Be mindful of the negative connotation.

Is there a difference between "obstruct advancement" and "delay advancement"?

Yes, "obstruct advancement" implies a significant barrier or intentional hindrance, whereas "delay advancement" simply means something is causing progress to happen more slowly. "Obstruct" is a stronger term.