overcame substantial obstacles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overcame substantial obstacles" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing challenges or difficulties that someone has successfully dealt with or surmounted. Example: "Despite facing numerous setbacks, she overcame substantial obstacles to achieve her goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mexía overcame substantial obstacles, including emotional instability, to pursue her love of plants.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Think of persuasive examples that illustrate situations in which you had a positive, measurable impact, brought a relevant skill to bear on a task, or overcame significant obstacles to achieve a goal.

Stanford University

Still, he faces substantial obstacles.

The Guardian

Ms. Bachmann would have substantial obstacles to overcome.

The New York Times

But Pentagon officials have said there are substantial obstacles to any such sales.

The New York Times

That may well be the case for Mr. McCain too, and he faces substantial obstacles.

The New York Times

So, interest-group politics commonly produce substantial obstacles to reform of corporate governance.

Harvard University

"They may pull through," said Patrick Finnegan, a senior vice president at Moody's Investors Service, "but they face substantial obstacles".

The New York Times

The US supreme court has ruled that states may not place undue burdens or substantial obstacles to women seeking abortion.

The Guardian

Still, Mr. Weiner faces substantial obstacles, including that several of his former aides have now signed onto other mayoral campaigns.

The New York Times

Substantial obstacles lie in the way.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overcame substantial obstacles", be specific about the nature of the obstacles to add impact and credibility to your writing. For example, instead of just stating that someone "overcame substantial obstacles", detail whether those obstacles were financial, personal, or professional.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the size or impact of the obstacles. Overstating them can diminish the credibility of the achievement. Ensure the obstacles are genuinely 'substantial' and that the accomplishment aligns with the level of difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overcame substantial obstacles" functions as a descriptive element, typically within a narrative or informative context. It highlights an individual's or entity's ability to prevail against significant difficulties. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is appropriate in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "overcame substantial obstacles" is used to describe successfully dealing with significant challenges. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. While its occurrence is relatively rare, it appears across various contexts, including science, news media, and academia. Alternative phrases such as "triumphed over major hurdles" and "conquered significant challenges" offer similar meanings with slight variations in tone and emphasis. When using this phrase, it's important to provide specific details about the obstacles to enhance the impact and avoid exaggeration to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

triumphed over major hurdles

Replaces "obstacles" with "hurdles" and "overcame" with "triumphed", emphasizing victory.

conquered significant challenges

Substitutes "overcame" with "conquered" and "obstacles" with "challenges", providing a more forceful tone.

navigated considerable difficulties

Replaces "overcame" with "navigated" and "obstacles" with "difficulties", focusing on skillful management.

surmounted significant impediments

Uses more formal vocabulary, replacing "obstacles" with "impediments" and "overcame" with "surmounted".

prevailed against substantial odds

Shifts focus to the unfavorable conditions, using "odds" instead of "obstacles" and "prevailed against" instead of "overcame".

beat significant difficulties

Replaces "overcame" with the more informal "beat" and "obstacles" with "difficulties".

rose above major setbacks

Focuses on bouncing back from negative events, substituting "obstacles" with "setbacks" and "overcame" with "rose above".

successfully addressed significant issues

Changes the focus to problem-solving, using "addressed" instead of "overcame" and "issues" instead of "obstacles".

coped with considerable adversity

Highlights the challenging circumstances, replacing "obstacles" with "adversity" and "overcame" with "coped with".

outmaneuvered major stumbling blocks

Emphasizes strategic skill, substituting "obstacles" with "stumbling blocks" and "overcame" with "outmaneuvered".

FAQs

What does "overcame substantial obstacles" mean?

The phrase "overcame substantial obstacles" describes a situation where someone has successfully dealt with or surmounted significant challenges and difficulties.

How can I use "overcame substantial obstacles" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe someone's success in the face of adversity. For instance: "Despite facing numerous setbacks, she "overcame substantial obstacles" to achieve her goals."

What can I say instead of "overcame substantial obstacles"?

You can use alternatives like "triumphed over major hurdles", "conquered significant challenges", or "navigated considerable difficulties depending on the context.

Which is correct, "overcame substantial obstacles" or "overcame considerable obstacles"?

Both phrases are correct and convey a similar meaning. "Substantial" and "considerable" are synonyms in this context, both indicating a significant degree of difficulty. The choice often depends on personal preference or stylistic considerations.