obstructed with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obstructed with" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct preposition would be "by" or "from" depending on the context. Example: "The road was obstructed by fallen trees after the storm."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Government efforts to enfranchise more Palestinians had been obstructed with protests.

The Economist

The camera isn't disconnected, however, because its "field of view is completely obstructed with the lid closed".

TechCrunch

We recognize that the term "impaction" suggests that the ear canal is completely obstructed with cerumen and that our definition of cerumen impaction does not require a complete obstruction.

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

On December 27, 2000, CHILD visited ENT Associates, where Dr. Grace Matesic observed that CHILD's left PE tube was obstructed with crust.

Huffington Post

In this study, we show that activated T lymphocytes are crucially dependent on Nampt activity for their function and survival as they face massive NAD+ depletion and cell demise when this enzyme is obstructed with FK866.

Plosone

Cystic fibrosis patients have constitutive high levels of IL-8 in their blood and sputum, and their lungs are obstructed with dead neutrophils and colonized by S. aureus or P. aeruginosa [16].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

He obliterated his actors under sumptuous costumes, obstructed them with cumbersome scenery and blinded them with bolts of lightning.

The Guardian - Books

Four human hydronephrotic obstructed kidneys with extensive fibrosis and tubulus atrophy were removed from patients with end-stage renal disease at the Academic Medical Center.

Plosone

Justice was obstructed along with everything else.

The New York Times

But Mr. Phillips felt the neighborhood was "all tight streets and obstructed views," with few shops and services.

The New York Times

Lawyers for the Rosenbaum family argued yesterday that Mr. Nelson's acts showed a "sociopathic personality," and that Mr. Nelson had obstructed justice with lies about the racially charged incident.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using "obstructed by" instead of "obstructed with" for improved grammatical clarity. For example, use "The road was obstructed by debris" instead of "The road was obstructed with debris."

Common error

Avoid using "with" after "obstructed". The correct preposition is typically "by". Saying something is "obstructed by" clearly indicates the cause of the obstruction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obstructed with" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something is being blocked or hindered by something else. However, according to Ludwig AI, the preposition is typically used incorrectly, it is better to use "obstructed by" or a similar alternative.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "obstructed with" appears in various contexts, including scientific and news publications, it's often flagged as grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI suggests that the more grammatically sound alternative is "obstructed by". Therefore, writers should exercise caution and consider context when using "obstructed with", opting for "obstructed by" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness. Furthermore, be sure to select a more specific synonym, such as "blocked by" or "impeded by" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obstructed by

This is considered a more grammatically sound way of saying "obstructed with", replacing the preposition with the more typical "by".

blocked with

Uses "blocked" instead of "obstructed", while retaining the preposition "with".

blocked by

Replaces the verb "obstructed" with "blocked" and the preposition "with" with "by", focusing on the action of blocking.

impeded by

Similar to "blocked by" but implies a slowing or hindering effect rather than a complete blockage.

hindered by

Suggests a more general prevention or difficulty caused by something.

clogged with

Implies a specific type of obstruction where something is filled and blocked with a substance.

filled with obstructions

Describes the state of being filled with things that block passage or view.

covered with obstacles

Describes the state of being covered by things that impede progress or movement.

obstructed from view

Focuses specifically on the obstruction of sight, making it impossible to see something clearly.

made inaccessible by

Indicates something has become unreachable due to an obstruction.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "obstructed with"?

Standard English grammar suggests using "obstructed by" rather than "obstructed with". While "obstructed with" appears in some contexts, it's often considered less precise.

What's a common mistake when using "obstructed"?

A frequent error is using the incorrect preposition. Always double-check whether "obstructed by" or a different phrasing would be more appropriate.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "obstructed with"?

You can use alternatives such as "blocked by", "impeded by", or "hindered by" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

How can I ensure I'm using "obstructed" correctly in a sentence?

Consider what is causing the obstruction. If something is causing the obstruction, use "obstructed by". If you mean that something is filled, consider rephrasing to indicate the filling more directly, or using a different construction with "blocked with".