serious impediment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serious impediment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant obstacle or hindrance that affects progress or success in a situation. Example: "The lack of funding has become a serious impediment to the project's completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But a serious impediment exists.

Harvard Business Review

Board composition is a serious impediment, if not done right.

Harvard Business Review

This constituted a serious impediment for the proper management of palygorskite-containing soils under irrigated agriculture.

Geoderma

However a serious impediment to the introduction of options is the variation in prices across seasons.

Journal of Hydrology

"Problems in the housing market are a serious impediment to a stronger economic recovery," he said.

The New York Times

This is a serious impediment because the Games want the highest standard of competition.

The New York Times

The financial and workforce pressures across the NHS are a serious impediment to progress.

The Guardian

But he did not mention a serious impediment to this noble goal.

The New York Times

"So I don't think the ruling should be a serious impediment to Windows XP".

The New York Times

At this point, Google and its Android allies are the most serious impediment.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's a serious impediment to anyone wanting to tour the region.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, follow "serious impediment" with a clear explanation of the consequences or impact of the impediment to enhance the reader's understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "serious impediment" for minor inconveniences; reserve it for situations where the obstacle genuinely poses a significant threat to success or progress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serious impediment" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object of a verb. It identifies a substantial obstacle or hindrance, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "serious impediment" effectively conveys the presence of a substantial obstacle, with Ludwig AI confirming its grammatical correctness and common usage. This phrase is most frequently encountered in news, scientific, and business contexts, signaling a need for careful consideration and strategic problem-solving. While versatile, it should be reserved for genuinely significant challenges to avoid overstatement. Related phrases, like "major obstacle" or "significant barrier", offer alternative ways to express similar meanings with nuanced differences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major obstacle

Focuses on the obstructive nature, similar to impediment.

significant barrier

Emphasizes the restrictive aspect of the impediment.

severe hindrance

Highlights the delaying effect of the impediment.

critical obstruction

Stresses the blocking effect and the importance of the impediment.

grave encumbrance

A more formal term for a burden or impediment.

substantial stumbling block

Implies a challenge that causes one to falter.

considerable disadvantage

Focuses on the competitive aspect of the impediment.

formidable challenge

Highlights the difficulty posed by the impediment.

notable constraint

Emphasizes the limiting nature of the impediment.

real setback

Highlights the negative consequences or delay.

FAQs

What does "serious impediment" mean?

A "serious impediment" refers to a significant obstacle or hindrance that notably obstructs progress or achievement. It indicates a challenge that needs substantial effort to overcome.

How to use "serious impediment" in a sentence?

Use "serious impediment" to describe a substantial obstacle affecting progress, such as: "The lack of funding is a "serious impediment" to the project's completion."

What can I say instead of "serious impediment"?

You can use alternatives like "major obstacle", "significant barrier", or "severe hindrance" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "serious impediment" over a simpler term like "problem"?

"Serious impediment" should be used when the issue is more than just a problem; it should represent a significant obstruction that fundamentally challenges progress or success.