hinder

Other forms: hindered; hinders; hindering

The verb hinder means to block or put something in the way of, so if you’re in a high-speed car chase with the police, they might put up a blockade to hinder your progress.

The word hinder came from the Old English hindrian, which means to "injure or damage." That's a little more extreme than what it means today, because, now it just means to get in the way of something or someone. People might not like you too much if you make it a practice to hinder their progress or get in the way of things they want, even if it's a small hindrance like blocking someone from getting to the cookie jar.

Definitions of hinder

1. verb

   be a hindrance or obstacle to
   synonyms: impede

   types:

   block, close up, impede, jam, obstruct, obturate, occlude

   block passage through

   inhibit

   limit, block, or decrease the action or function of

   interfere

   come between so as to be a hindrance or obstacle

   set back

   slow down the progress of; hinder

   hobble

   hamper the action or progress of

   stunt

   check the growth or development of

   block off, blockade

   obstruct access to

   barricade, barricado

   block off with barricades

   barricade

   prevent access to by barricading

   asphyxiate, choke, stifle, suffocate

   impair the respiration of or obstruct the air passage of

   tie up

   restrain from moving or operating normally

   dam, dam up

   obstruct with, or as if with, a dam

   block out, screen

   prevent from entering

   earth up, land up

   block with earth, as after a landslide

   bar, barricade, block, block off, block up, blockade, stop

   render unsuitable for passage

   back up, choke, choke off, clog, clog up, congest, foul

   become or cause to become obstructed

   dwarf

   check the growth of

   type of:

   keep, prevent

   stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state
2. verb

   hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
   synonyms: block, blockade, embarrass, obstruct, stymie, stymy

   types:

   stonewall

   obstruct or hinder any discussion

   filibuster

   obstruct deliberately by delaying

   check

   block or impede (a player from the opposing team) in ice hockey

   hang

   prevent from reaching a verdict, of a jury

   bottleneck

   slow down or impede by creating an obstruction

   type of:

   forbid, foreclose, forestall, preclude, preempt, prevent

   keep from happening or arising; make impossible
3. verb

   put at a disadvantage
   “The brace I have to wear is hindering my movements”

   synonyms: hamper, handicap

   type of:

   disadvantage, disfavor, disfavour

   put at a disadvantage; hinder, harm